The TUSD Governing Board appointed two principals Tuesday night to head Rincon and Palo Verde high schools as the district implements turnaround models 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 low achieving by the state due to declines in math and reading scores. As a result, the board decided both schools would adopt the turnaround model, which requires the schools’ principal be replaced and that staff members reapply for their jobs, with no more than half being rehired.
Comstock is currently serving as 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 TUSD 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 position she took last August. In making the decision to retain 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 and since then has worked as an exceptional education teacher, 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 stated those selected would be able to hire their own staff, design and implement an innovative and transformative model of instruction, and have resources to provide aggressive professional development and financial rewards for success.
Both Comstock and Acevedo will be mentored by Maria Menconi, the district’s interim deputy superintendent. Menconi has past experience in serving as a leadership coach.
Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.
