At a special meeting on April 6, AUSD’s Board of Education approved three new principals for AUSD elementary schools. The principals will be working at Earhart Elementary School, Maya Lin School, and Paden Elementary School.

Bryan Dunn-Ruiz (Earhart Elementary School)

Before becoming a 5^th grade teacher at Earhart, Mr. Dunn-Ruiz served as an elementary principal with the San Lorenzo Unified School District (SLUSD) for five years. Prior to that, he was a classroom teacher in both SLUSD and Emery Unified.

Mr. Dunn-Ruiz received his Bachelor of Science in Anthropology at Southern Oregon University, his teaching credential at Cal State University East Bay, and his Master’s in Educational Leadership from UC Berkeley.

Karen Ringewald (Maya Lin School)

Ms. Ringewald comes to AUSD from Aspire Charter Schools in Oakland, where she served as principal for five years. Prior to that, she was first Dean of Students and then Assistant Principal at Aspire Triumph Technology Academy, and a teacher in LA Unified.

Ms. Ringewald received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a Master of Public Administration from Cornell, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from CSU Dominguez Hills, and a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership from the Reach Institute.

Tri Nguyen, EdD (Paden Elementary School)

Currently a principal at Luther Burbank School in San Jose, Dr. Nguyen has also served as a Vice Principal at Belle Haven School in Menlo Park, an instructional coach, and an elementary and middle school teacher.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communication from UC Davis, his Master of Arts in Education at UC Davis, and his Doctorate of Education from San Jose State University.

The three new principals will assume their positions in early August.

“We are grateful for the hard work and commitment of our current principals at these sites,” says Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi, “and we’re looking forward to working with and learning from these new staff members next year.”

AUSD advertised broadly for the three positions. The hiring process included paper screening, telephone screening, and an interview with a panel made up of each school's staff, parents, and community partners, second-round interviews with the executive team, and one on one interviews with the Superintendent.