DSUSD is pleased to introduce Juan (Johnny) Alvarez, Jr. as the Manager of Maintenance Services!
Mr. Alvarez has a School Business Management Certificate from California State University, San Bernardino. He has also completed locksmithing trade school, and taken courses in Building, Plumbing, and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning at College of the Desert.
Mr. Alvarez has worked in our MOT department for 24 years where he held positions as a custodian, groundskeeper, irrigation technician, maintenance worker, plumber, and most recently as a Quality Assurance Facilitator where he conducted inspections of district sites, developed training sessions for custodians, and helped prepare sites for the safe return of students to school following nearly a year of virtual learning.
Mr. Alvarez is a proud father of 3 La Quinta High School graduates. He has stated that his children are his greatest accomplishment and that they have taught him as much about life as he has taught them. His son, Johnny, earned his bachelor degree from the University of Montana in Biochemistry and his daughters, Ariana, and Isabel are currently attending the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of Arizona majoring in International Business, and Business Accounting, respectively.
Congratulations , Mr. Alvarez!
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Next, DSUSD is pleased to introduce Leslie Wells as the Assistant Principal of Eisenhower Community Education Center!
Mr. Wells attended Loyola Marymount University earning his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature, and his Master of Arts in Bilingual Education/Biliteracy. Where he taught graduate school methodology classes for several years.
Mr. Wells spent 20 years at Santa Monica High School. He spent the first 8 years as Spanish/AVID teacher, followed by 4 years as a counselor, and the last 8 years as House Principal of a Smaller Learning Community (SLC). His SLC had 600 students, 25 teachers, 2 counselors. As a teacher, he was department chair, teacher union Executive Board officer, BTSA support provider, trainer for AVID, and an athletic coach. He was also the administrator over special education. This site had all programs…resource, special day class, visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, severely handicapped, medically fragile, and adult transition program; nearly 400 students.
For the past six years, Mr. Wells has served as an Assistant Principal at SHHS overseing CTE classes, Counseling, Special Education, and World Languages.
Interesting facts about Mr. Wells…he was born into a military family, which meant he moved every few years. He attended 13 different schools before graduating high school. He can never pass a pinball machine without playing it. The only way he knows how to cook is by watching someone make a recipe. He cannot follow a written recipe.
Mr. Wells credits his mother, Aileen Wells, and sisters Fatima and Carmen for their consistent and sometimes-gentle encouragement. And his partner, Joe Marsella for letting him process his day.
Congratulations on this new assignment, Mr. Wells!