BERNARDO T. VALENZUELA
Indio,CA
Summary
Results-driven educational leader with 25+ years of experience in school and district-level administration, including Principal and Director of Certificated Human Resources. Proven ability to lead school turnarounds, drive student achievement, manage complex budgets, and foster strong staff and community relations. Bilingual in English and Spanish, with expertise in certificated hiring, evaluation processes, and professional development.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim Admin and Leadership Consulting
Desert Sands Unified School District and Various School Districts
08.2024 - Current
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
Director of Certificated
Coachella Valley Unified School District
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Spearheaded the hiring and recruitment of over 900 certificated, non-management employees.
- Managed and coordinated all certificated employee evaluation, appraisal, and transfer processes.
- Oversaw all elements of the Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) and New Teacher Induction Programs.
- Resolved complex employee relations issues and compliance matters, managing over 900 staff members.
Principal
Arroyo Valley High School
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Managed 200+ staff members and resolved compliance and employee issues at the lowest possible level.
- Secured $1 million in K12 Strong Workforce Grants to expand college and career pathways.
- Achieved a 98% staff retention rate, demonstrating a positive and supportive school culture.
- Increased graduation rates for AA, EL, SED, and SPED students by at least 2% each year.
- Boosted parent and community involvement by 50% through the Parent Institute.
- Awarded two California Distinguished Academies and multiple Linked Learning certifications for cross-curricular, project-based learning.
Principal
Southwest High School
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Increased student achievement among the EL subgroup by 10% in one academic year.
- Generated a 10–15% budget surplus in the LCAP and LCFF funds by fiscal year-end.
- Invested state and federal funds in high-impact parent institutes and professional development programs.
- Achieved zero FPM (Federal Program Monitoring) findings for the 2016–2017 school year.
Principal
Taft Union High School
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Revitalized school culture and addressed compliance following a campus shooting, restoring safety and stability within three years.
- Resolved uniform complaints and all safety compliance concerns post-crisis.
- Increased dual enrollment with the local community college by 10% over three years.
- Expanded English-Learner parent participation by 95% within three years.
Assistant Principal
Indio High School
01.2005 - 01.2013
CTE and ELS Teacher
La Quinta High School
01.2000 - 01.2005
- Desert Sands USD
Social Sciences Teacher
Colton High School
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Colton Joint USD
Education
Doctoral Candidate - Organizational Leadership
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA01.2024
M.A. - Educational Leadership
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA01.2001
B.A. - Political Science
UC-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA01.1990
Skills
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
Professional Development Certifications And Awards
- Human Resources Academy, 2020-01-01
- National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) Certificate, 2018-01-01, 2020-12-31
- ACSA Fiscal Service Training, 2017-01-01
- ACSA Coach Leadership Mentor
- Arbinger Institute training
- Steve Zuieback Facilitation Training
- Courageous Conversations Training
- CALSA Administrator Mentoring Program
- Awarded Division I football scholarship at University California, Berkeley
- Recognized by San Bernardino Mayor and City Council for continuous involvement in the community and Black History month
Community Service
- Vice President Board Member, Amelia Ramos Group Homes
- Volunteer, Pure Land Foundation
- Volunteer, St. Francis Church in La Quinta
- Member, Kiwanis
Timeline
Interim Admin and Leadership Consulting
Desert Sands Unified School District and Various School Districts
08.2024 - Current
Director of Certificated
Coachella Valley Unified School District
01.2023 - 01.2024
Principal
Arroyo Valley High School
01.2017 - 01.2022
Principal
Southwest High School
01.2016 - 01.2017
Principal
Taft Union High School
01.2013 - 01.2016
Assistant Principal
Indio High School
01.2005 - 01.2013
CTE and ELS Teacher
La Quinta High School
01.2000 - 01.2005
Social Sciences Teacher
Colton High School
01.1997 - 01.2000
M.A. - Educational Leadership
University of Redlands
B.A. - Political Science
UC-Berkeley
Doctoral Candidate - Organizational Leadership
University of La Verne