Los Alamitos Unified School District recently announced two new principals for schools within the District: Evelyn Garcia and Amy Laughlin.
Garcia is set to replace Ondrea Reed, who was recently promoted to director of Educational Services, as the new principal of Francis Hopkinson Elementary School.
Garcia began her career in Los Al five years ago as the program director of Los Alamitos Education Foundation, where she had the opportunity to be the K-12 administrator for the Summer Enrichment Institute.
She missed being at a school site and returned to the classroom, teaching a 2/3 combo at Weaver and fifth-grade at Hopkinson.
Before coming to our District, Garcia was a teacher K-6 and served as a teacher on special assignment responsible for testing and intervention.
Evelyn and her husband have three children, two of which (Aaliyah and Jaden) attend Hopkinson and a 2-year-old future Husky, Nathan.
She is a passionate leader who is extremely committed to igniting unlimited possibilities for all children.
Superintendent Dr. Sherry Kropp said, “Evelyn is a strong and warm instructional leader who embraces our vision and who has immersed herself into the Los Alamitos culture.
Her knowledge, expertise, and experiences have fully prepared her to assume this new role.” Garcia is honored to be the principal and said, “Hopkinson is an amazing school with wonderful students, teachers, and parents, and I am thrilled to support and collaborate with the entire school community to ensure that we continue to provide unlimited possibilities for all students.”
Amy Laughlin has been selected as the new principal for Lee Elementary School. Laughlin has been teaching for 16 years, 13 of them in the Savanna School District.
For the last seven years, she served as a reading intervention specialist, providing high-quality education and support for struggling students in all grade levels.
Additionally, Laughlin assumed the role of administrative designee, running the district’s summer academy program, serving as advisor to the Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership with the Anaheim Police Department, and coordinating all academic and behavioral intervention programs at her site.
In 2015 Laughlin was named Orange County Teacher of the Year as well as California Teacher of the Year.
She is a dynamic leader who will continue to “Ignite Unlimited Possibilities” for staff and students at Lee Elementary.
The district will host a Meet and Greet for Laughlin on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Media Center at Lee.
Laughlin received her Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University; Master of Arts degree from California State University, San Bernardino; and her educational administration credential from California State University, Long Beach. Amy lives in Huntington Beach with her husband, Adam, and their three children, Laney (7), Reid (6), and Knox (3).
When asked about her new role as principal in Los Alamitos Unified, Laughlin said, “I am honored to be part of a district that partners with the community to provide rich and meaningful experiences for all students. I am truly delighted to be part of the Los Al family!”
