Elementary school principal leaves post

Elissa DeAngelo came to La Cañada Elementary School in 2008 for what was supposed to be a six-month stint as principal while the district sought a permanent replacement.

Instead, she stayed long enough to finish her 25-year career in school administration. On Monday afternoon more than 60 teachers, staff, parents and children came together to celebrate DeAngelo’s retirement with songs, speeches and cake.

DeAngelo looked around her and said it was easy to see why she loved her job. “These beautiful children that I had to work with, that is my joy and my mission,” she said.

Young students ran across the school’s gym to give DeAngelo flowers and homemade cards before the school’s fifth- and sixth-grade choir serenaded the crowd with songs from “Seussical,” the Dr. Seuss musical. Second-grade teacher Deborah Pruden told the assembled group that working with DeAngelo was a pleasure. “She appreciates good teaching,” Pruden said. “She trusted us, and that goes a long way.”

The crowning gift for DeAngelo was a collection of 600 daily inspirations written by the school’s staff and students on individual ribbon-tied pieces of paper. The notes range from expressions of gratitude to knock-knock jokes, and DeAngelo now has nearly a two-year supply to remember the school by.

-- Daniel Siegal, Times Community News

Twitter: @ValleySunDan