It’s a Mattter of Principals at DSUSD

Dennis Zink has been named principal of Palm Desert High School as Robert Hicks retires from his career with Desert Sands Unified School District.

Zink joins DSUSD from Palm Springs High School where he served as assistant principal. His principal at PSHS, Ryan Wool, noted upon the announcement that, “His background in special education has provided him with a philosophy of equity that infuses his decisions and clearly exhibit his belief that all students can learn given effective instruction and time to accomplish their goals.”

Zinc’s 22-plus years of experience in secondary education include 18 years as a teacher, including teaching special day and resource courses with a focus on RTI (response to intervention), leading college-prep and AP (advanced placement) classes, and his well-respected leadership skills, including four years in high school administration. Experience as a high school basketball coach and a college assistant basketball coach also led to the decision. As the leader of a high school renowned for its academic excellence as an AP Capstone and Gold Ribbon high school, an athletics program recognized for its many DVL championships, and a program well known for its outstanding work with special needs students, Zinc comes to Palm Desert High School with the highest of credentials.

The new principal of Palm Desert high School holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Fresno Pacific University as well as two master’s degrees: one in education with an emphasis in special education and one in school administration.

Jeffrey Hisgen has been named principal of Richard R. Oliphant Elementary School. The new school located in Indio will open in time for the 2018-2019 school year. The name of the school was recently announced recognizing local entrepreneur and education supporter Dick Oliphant. The new principal and the school’s namesake recently met at the construction site of the new school. Hisgen is currently the principal of James Carter Elementary School in Indio. He will relocate to the district office later this year to prepare for his new assignment. Hisgen holds a bachelors degree in education and a master of arts in educational administration.

Theresa Kramer, currently principal of the soon-to-be-closed Dwight Eisenhower Elementary School will become principal of James Carter Elementary School. Kramer has worked in education for 27 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She has worked in the Desert Sands Unified School District since 2002, serving as principal of Dwight Eisenhower Elementary School since 2009.

Also new to their roles in the 2017-2018 school year are La Quinta High School Principal Rudy Wilson, Ed.D., Summit High School and Horizon School Principal Oron Jackson, Shadow Hills High School Principal Gabriel Fajardo, John Glenn Middle School Principal Scott Davis, Dr. Reynaldo Carreon Jr. Elementary School Principal Tiffany Norton, Gerald Ford Elementary School Principal John Preston, and John Adams Early Childhood Learning Center Principal Maria Moore. Their appointments were made prior to the beginning of the school year.

 

Mary E. B. Perry is the public information officer at Desert Sands Unified School District.