Shannon Gomez Shannon Gomez, who has a doctorate degree in education, is the new principal at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks. Gomez succeeds Cecilia Coe, who retired in June.

La Reina is a private Catholic college preparatory junior and senior high school for girls, established by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1964.

“La Reina empowers women in the right way,” said Gomez. “Here they can develop their voice, their faith, their morals and values.”

Gomez has a master’s degree in education from California State University Fullerton and another degree in educational leadership for social justice from Loyola Marymount University. Her doctoral thesis addressed leadership relating to the future of Catholic schools. Her other areas of interest include social justice issues, curriculum and instruction, school leadership, diversity, race and single-sex education.

A cum laude graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Gomez also possesses a bachelor’s degree in education. After graduating, she was selected as a scholarship recipient in Bowling Green’s student teaching abroad program. Her first teaching experience was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at Our Lady of Mercy High School.

She’s also taught at Everest Academy in Clarkston, Mich., and St. Edward the Confessor School in Dana Point, Calif..

For the last six years, she’s been principal at St. Lawrence the Martyr School in Redondo Beach.

Gomez is looking forward to her tenure at La Reina. “I love everything La Reina stands for. It is a great gift to the community, and the school helps develop the girls both spiritually and academically. La Reina has a proven record, with 100 percent of its graduating seniors going on to universities and colleges around the country. My intention is to continue that excellence.”

Gomez lives in Wood Ranch with her husband, Art, and her son, Arthur Anthony Jr.