Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Castro gets new principal, 200 students

by Molly Tanenbaum

With Slater School closed, Castro School will add more than 200 new kids and the parental involvement program, PACT, in the fall. It will also lose its principal, Carla Tarazi.

Last week, the Mountain View Whisman School District announced that Carmen Mizell, manager of student information and technology at the Sunnyvale School District, will replace Tarazi to head Castro and to attempt to bring unity to the PACT and Dual Immersion programs at the site, as well as to raise test scores at a school that has failed to meet federal targets for three years in a row.

"We are so thrilled to find someone with extensive experiences and leadership skills," said Assistant Superintendent Mary Lairon.

Mizell has worked in administration for a decade and says she's eager to return to school.

"To me, there's just something about working with kids where you can see growth and it comes back to you tenfold," Mizell said. "I think I've made a really great choice and I'm happy they chose me. It's really where I feel I belong and it's where I can contribute the most."

Prior to managing attendance, instructional technology and graphics in Sunnyvale, Mizell taught in myriad environments, including bilingual, year-round kindergarten, English as a second language, middle school migrant programs and gifted classes. She has taught in Texas, New Mexico, Nevada and California.

"First and foremost, I'm a teacher at heart," Mizell said.

Mizell grew up in a bilingual household in Houston, Texas, and is fluent in Spanish, which she will use as principal of a school with a large number of children with Spanish-speaking parents.

"I'm very proud of where I came from, so I can give a good perspective on what you can do when you persevere," she said.

Mountain View Whisman had two principal vacancies this fall. The district hired former Sacramento-area principal Phyllis DeMattos in early May to head Landels and replace interim principal Jerry Davis.

Tarazi will move with her family to Manhattan, where her husband accepted a job as an accountant. Her last day was June 15. Mizell will begin Aug. 7.

At the June 28 board meeting, community members and Castro families may meet Mizell at a reception.

E-mail Molly Tanenbaum at mtanenbaum@mv-voice.com

Posted by Sunnyvale Resident, a resident of another community, on Oct 29, 2009 at 6:05 pm

Carmen Mizell... manager of student information and technology at the Sunnyvale School District... funny I remember this name and something about employee behavior in the Sunnyvale School Distict... and now inappropriate behavior in the Mountain View School District. Go figure.

Posted by Patty, a resident of another community, on Oct 29, 2009 at 7:19 pm

If you can't laugh, you gotta cry...

Top Ten Key Strategies of Superintendent Letterman's latest Deployment Plan

10. Arrives at your school humming Love Train by the O'Jays.

9. Asks you if you'd like an EFWA sticker on your bumper.

8. Gives you personal coaching on how to be a CI "quality employee" and get ahead.

7. Is always talking about his Big Rocks management theory.

6. Ask you to come over to help film a clip for the next "all-hands" meeting.

5. Asks you to come to his office and discuss SMART goals--Stretching, Measurable, Attainable, Rewarding, Timely.

4. Leaves you wondering why he keeps saying "you have to go fast to go slow."

3. Asks you to be on his staff.

2. Reassigns you to a choice position after you've blown your job.

1. Leaves your school on his moped with a smile.