On Friday, March 22, Principal Valerie Arbizu announced to Aragon students and families via email and over social media that starting next school year, she will leave her current position as principal to take on a new role as the San Mateo Union High School District 504/Multi-Tiered System of Support Coordinator. In this position, Arbizu will work to ensure that resources are available to students based on three levels that offer different amounts of extra support for students struggling with their behavior or academics.
Arbizu expanded on her new role.
“We need to have systems in place where, if a student needs a tier-two intervention with academics, what makes sense and how do we know if that support helped?” Arbizu said. “I’m anticipating my role [to be] working with counselors and administrative teams at all of the sites across the district and [overseeing] how they implement their tiered systems of support.”
The time commitment of being a principal pushed Arbizu towards her new path.
“I’ve had some significant things happen in my personal life this year,” Arbizu said. “At some point, [you wonder] how much you continue to push and be in a high-stress job … I’m here a lot at night and on the weekends for different events that pop up. I don’t think you can do this job without giving 110% of yourself. Right now, I need to take a break. There was a position available [at the district] and my skill set will fit nicely there.”
Reflecting on her time at Aragon, Arbizu shared some accomplishments as principal.
“[I’m proud of] working in a collaborative and flexible way with staff to make sure that our support systems are responsive to student needs, of the construction projects [that are] almost done,” Arbizu said. ” And I’m proud that this campus has been able to retain and maintain its sense of community through the [pandemic].”
Assistant principal Andrew Hartig spoke about Arbizu’s commitment to being available to students and staff.
“[Arbizu’s] office door is always open to any staff member who needs to speak with her,” Hartig said. “Under previous principals I’ve been with, getting an appointment to meet… has always been difficult. [Arbizu] makes herself freely available to staff members and students. The fact that she’s so available to talk with people at any time is amazing.”
He described his experience working with Arbizu.
“Ms. Arbizu is very different from most principals,” Hartig said. “She’s very active and involved with students. [Sometimes], principals can be relegated to an office position and working with adults. But I think what makes her really unique is her love for students, [like] .. the fact that she attends as many [events] as possible. She does embody the idea of Aragon CARES, in caring for every student.”
World Languages co-department head and Advancement via Individual Determination teacher Alejandra Cheever elaborated on ways that Arbizu has supported staff.
“[An] AVID teacher wanted to do an overnight field trip,” Cheever said. “Principal Arbizu helped us through the process [of] getting approval [and keeping] us up to date on the COVID protocols so that we could make sure the field trip would still move forward. “The students [made] so many great memories from that trip, [which] stick with [them] … as they move forward in life.”
Science co-department head and Advanced Placement Biology teacher Katherine Ward spoke about Arbizu’s correspondence.
I had a situation where I was here on campus and my heart rate went skyrocketing,” Ward said. “It was 270 beats per minute. Normal is 60 and I had to call 911. And the paramedics were showing up. And this is the first time I’ve actually really met my principal face to face is when she’s coming in to say, ‘Are you okay?’ She was very supportive, incredibly, so personally, I’ve benefited from her. Just being invested in the people that she works with.”
She shared what she wants to see in the new principal.
“I hope that [they] continue to centralize students in the decision making,” Ward said. “I hope that they can recognize that there is an incredibly talented staff [at Aragon] and support the talent, the creativity and the professionalism that exists among the staff.”
Hartig echoed this sentiment.
“I hope that the next principal is able to continue building on the sense of community that Ms. Arbizu has created,” Hartig said. “For any new principal, there’s a learning curve of getting to know the community and getting to know the school. My hope is that whoever takes over will be attentive to that, and spend time getting to know the staff here and the students here.”
Aragon is currently in the process of searching for a new principal and will consider input from the community through surveys sent out via email.
