Executive director of new charter school had been fired in Camarillo

A new Thousand Oaks charter school has hired a recently fired Pleasant Valley School District principal to serve as its executive director.

Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School (MATES) announced last week that Julie Antilla-Garza will head up its school, which grew from parents and teachers who were disappointed in Conejo Valley Unified School District's board decision to shutter Meadows Elementary. MATES won a court decision in May that will allow it to open on the Meadows campus in the fall.

Antilla-Garza was fired from Las Posas Elementary School of Camarillo in May with only one month remaining in the school year. Luis Villegas, superintendent of Pleasant Valley School District, hasn't explained why.

After an extensive interview process, MATES board members said they're sure Antilla-Garza is the right choice.

"We did very thorough background checks and talked to many, many people," said MATES board member Renee Dake. "We didn't find anyone who had even one negative word to say about her. We're pretty convinced that it was a personnel conflict between her and some administration. And we don't believe that has any bearing on her ability to do a good job at MATES.

"It was campus politics and that kind of stuff—it happens."

Dake said Antilla-Garza has jumped into her role, already attending meetings and planning for the school's first year.

"The kids at Las Posas are really sad to lose her," Dake said. "Their loss is our gain in this situation."

Las Posas families were outraged by the firing. A group of about 50 parents protested before a Pleasant Valley school board meeting last month and later started a petition to recall all five board members and replace Superintendent Villegas.

A new principal, James Martinez, has been hired at Las Posas.

Antilla-Garza was principal at Las Posas for the past four years after serving as principal for a year at a small school district outside Santa Paula. She lives in Camarillo with her husband, Martin, and 20-month-old son Joaquin.

Antilla-Garza was told she'd be allowed to come back as a teacher in the fall, which would have meant a pay cut of up to $40,000.

MATES president, Marlo Hartsuyker, said she's very happy with the new hire.

"Ms. AntillaGarza's extensive and wide-ranging experience is precisely what we were looking for in an executive director," Hartsuyker said. "She brought a technical revolution to her last campus through extensive staff training, multiple technology grants and the incorporation of technology tools in the classroom. We feel she is a perfect fit for the MATES mission."

Antilla-Garza has said she's thrilled about the new job.

"I believe it is the dream of any leader to work with individuals who are passionate, innovative and hardworking," Antilla-Garza said. "As I started observing the charter board members and founding teachers at MATES, I discovered a group of people who have devoted themselves to their school vision and have labored ceaselessly to make their plans a reality.

"I am energized by the commitment and work ethic of the adults involved with MATES, and I am sure they are modeling these positive attributes to the children who will be the inaugural community of students at MATES."

Antilla-Garza also said she felt the charter school movement was in line with the evolution of public schools.

"A quick review of the history of public schools in the U.S. shows a transition from establishments that were exclusionary and met the needs of very few in the population . . . to our current era of high expectations for all, educators skilled in differentiating learning experiences for success and parents empowered to pursue educational environments that are best matched with their children's learning styles and needs," she said. "Charter schools are created and governed by parents: the children's first teachers and the decision-making adults who know the type of school setting in which the students will succeed."

MATES had a panel of seven people, including charter principals, teachers, MATES board members, Ventura County Office of Education staff and community members, conducting the two rounds of interviews for executive director. The first of two orientations for MATES families is on Sat., Aug. 1. Antilla-Garza will be introduced at that time.