The TUSD Governing Board appointed two principals Tuesday night to head Rincon and Palo Verde high schools as the district implements turnaround models for the next school year.
Cathy Comstock will be in charge of Rincon, while Janna Acevedo will head Palo Verde High Magnet.
The two schools have been labeled persistently as low-achieving by the state because of declines in math and reading scores. As a result, the board decided both schools would adopt the turnaround model, which requires that the schools' principals be replaced and that staff members reapply for their jobs, with no more than half being rehired.
Comstock is currently the principal of Dodge Magnet Middle School. She will replace Abel Ramirez, who has been in charge of Rincon in an interim capacity. Comstock began working in the Tucson Unified School District as a fifth-grade teacher in 1985. In 1993, she became principal of Steele Elementary School - a position she held for 10 years before moving to Dodge.
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Acevedo is serving as the interim principal at Palo Verde, a job she took last August. In deciding to keep Acevedo and make her position permanent, TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone said: "We've seen through her performance that she is the candidate that we want."
She joined TUSD in 1986. Since then, she has worked as an exceptional-education teacher, as the exceptional-education department chair at Cholla High Magnet School, and as an assistant principal at Tucson High Magnet School.
The job announcement for the turnaround principal positions said those chosen would be able to hire their own staff; design and implement a model of instruction; and have resources to provide aggressive professional development and financial rewards for success.
Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.
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