By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica High School has a new principal. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board voted last week to appoint Dr. Ilene Straus as the high school’s chief educational officer. Straus is charged with guiding and directing the educational program at the high school.
For the past 16 years, Straus has been the principal of Lincoln Middle School. She will assume her new role at Samohi on July 1.
Under her leadership, Lincoln Middle School was named a “California State Distinguished School.” Straus was named the YWCA’s woman of the year in 1996 and the state’s secondary principal of the year in 1991.
“I believe two of Ilene Straus’ most important talents are her ability to attract, recruit and maintain an excellent staff and her courage,” said Don Shalvey, CEO of Aspire Public Schools. “She establishes high standards, supports each individual in their own growth and demonstrates the courage to take the difficult stand on accountability.”
The school board also appointed Chi Kim as the new principal of Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School.
Kim most recently was principal of Reed Elementary School in Tiburon in Northern California. She also was an assistant principal, district liaison, team leader and school site coordinator in the Inglewood School District.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 20, 2002. Read the original PDF.