A Rebirth for School : Education: For her work in turning around Las Lomas Elementary in La Habra, Mary Jo Anderson is honored as Principal of the Year.

Six years ago, Las Lomas Elementary School had the highest rate of vandalism and graffiti incidents and the lowest attendance record in the La Habra City School District.

Students had low self-esteem, and the school was an eyesore, teachers and parents recall.

All that changed when Mary Jo Anderson became principal in the fall of 1987.

The summer before she assumed her duties as principal, Anderson scrubbed the campus clean and painted the classrooms with the help of a custodian. The cosmetic change was just the beginning.

Soon her school achieved the highest attendance record and lowest rate of vandalism and graffiti in the city. For her efforts in turning the school around, Anderson was named Orange County’s Elementary School Principal of the Year recently by the Assn. of California School Administrators.

Anderson, 52, of Brea, launched several programs to address the needs of her low-income students and their families. She helps teach classes for parents on English as a second language, parenting and nutrition after school and in the evenings.

Other services available at her school include food and clothing distribution, a breakfast program and free health care.

“I’m a happy lady here,” Anderson said. “The children are happy; the parents are happy. We’re just building a safe, nurturing community here, and everyone respects the school.”

Teachers agree and attribute the school’s success to Anderson.

“She establishes the ambience in this school,” said kindergarten teacher Maria Vigil, who was named California’s Teacher of the Year in 1992 by the state Department of Education. Anderson “is here early. She is here late. She takes care of the children and their families, and she inspires people. She’s the reason why I was able to win the Teacher of the Year award,” Vigil said.

“This school teaches more than reading, writing and arithmetic because Mary Jo works with the family at every level and makes parents feel they can do something for their children,” Vigil added. “They feel that they are valuable, and that rubs off on the students.”

Anderson said the kindergarten-through-second-grade school needed help badly. That’s why she implemented the various programs, she said.

“It’s just been an amazing thing,” Anderson said. “Now everyone feels like giving and helping each other in the community. When people step on this campus, they can just feel good things.”

Anderson began working for the district in 1968 as a first-grade teacher at Tierra Rica School. Later, she became a reading resource teacher and school improvement coordinator at Ladera Palma and Walnut elementary schools. She served as acting principal at Walnut before becoming principal of Las Lomas.

During her 24-year career, Anderson, who is married and has two children and two grandchildren, has encouraged community involvement.

Last Christmas, she called on the Fire and Police departments to help her raise money and gather extra food, clothing and presents for her students and their families. She also has received support from local businesses and people who believe in her cause.

District Supt. Richard Hermann said Anderson’s recognition is well-deserved. “It’s a superb honor for a very super lady,” he said. “She gives so much of her time and of her resources. She’s very loving and has a very special way of working with people.”

Hermann remembered visiting the school one evening to inspect flooding problems during the recent storms. “Guess who was there?” he asked. “Mary Jo. She’s always there and always willing to give a helping hand.”