New principals chosen

GLENDALE — Three new principals were announced Tuesday at a special Glendale Unified School District Board of Education meeting. All were chosen from within the district.

Linda Junge, who as director of public information and assessment and evaluation has had a high profile among the district’s administration, was announced as the new principal for Muir Elementary School, replacing longtime Principal Amaly Avakian. Junge’s list of credentials includes 12 years of experience and four education degrees. Junge was born and raised in Glendale, attending Keppel Elementary, Toll Middle School and Hoover High School.

“Congratulations, Dr. Junge, but you will be missed here by all of us tremendously,” said Mary Boger, board president.

Before becoming an administrator, she was a teacher for the district, and in her farewell to the board expressed a desire to return to campus-level work.

“I miss kids,” she said. “I miss working directly with kids.”

Junge gave an emotional goodbye to the board and staff she had worked with during her time at the district office.

“I want to say how thankful I have been to work with this team. What an amazing experience it has been,” she said.

Junge’s replacement has yet to be announced.

Lynn Marso will take over as principal at Roosevelt Middle School, replacing Maria Gandera, who is transferring to the district’s human resources office. Marso has been with the district for 24 years as a teacher at Cerritos Elementary School and later served as a teacher specialist at La Crescenta, Monte Vista and Columbus elementary schools.

She also worked in the special projects office and was an assistant principal at Edison Elementary School and has been a successful principal at Marshall Elementary for the last six years, Boger said.

“She now brings her wealth of experience to Rooselvelt Middle School,” Boger said.

Marso’s replacement as principal at Marshall Elementary has not been announced.

Karen Stegman was announced as the new principal of Dunsmore Elementary School, replacing Mary La Masa, who will be transferring to the district office. A position has not been announced for La Masa.

Stegman has been with Glendale Unified for 20 years where her experience has run the gamut, from teacher specialist to assistant principal. Most recently she has served as coordinator of special projects and beginning teacher support and assessment induction.

“Ms. Stegman is known for being a compassionate listener with strong communication skills,” Boger said.

All three principals said they put some time in studying their new locations, searching the school’s websites and the school accountability reports.

“I want to focus on the joy of learning,” said Stegman of her choice to move to principal. “Dunsmore has that, and I want to continue it. It has a real sense of community.”