SMHS welcomes Mrs. Sarah Penalora as our new assistant principal this year, helping Dr. Wolf and the school administration in leading our school throughout the year and into the future. Editor-in-Chief, Aayan Khan, got the chance to sit down with Mrs. Penalora in order for you to better get to know her as a person, administrator, wife, mother, and now Titan.
Q: Was this your career choice that you always saw yourself in, and why did you decide high school students are who you wanted to work with?
A: No. At first I majored in Business Administration, at the suggestion of my mom. I could instantly tell it wasn’t for me. Next, I signed up for the LSATs, thinking I would study law, but then I took several law enforcement training classes instead. I liked that work, but I continued to be drawn to the English, philosophy, speech, and history classes I took in college. Ultimately, I really do, and still do love the depth and breadth of the intellectual discussions generated by literary works. I ended up building a career in education that has been absolutely rewarding. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Regarding high school students, I just think they are the best. High school is the launching pad for all possible careers and if students are so inclined, they can capitalize on all that is offered to them, so that they can find out in advance of college what their true interests are.
Q: What are your future plans for yourself, whether it be a new career or goal, or are you content with where you currently are?
A: I am extremely content where I am, and excited to be at San Marino. I enjoy administrative work and I love to improve systems. However, as a lifelong learner, I’m always up for a challenge, so the Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Lead interests me.
Q: What elements do you think are most important to your administrative stance at San Marino?
A: I believe these elements are most important in my administrative stance as I begin here at San Marino:
- Keep and open mind
- Listen to what people need
- Make action plans based on a vision for school improvement
- Obtain the help and support of all stakeholders
- Celebrate staff and students
- Continue to build a caring school community
- Stay current with useful technologies, strategies, and initiatives
- Above all — do what’s best for students
Q: How have your philosophies been influenced over the course of your life, whether it be your family or career?
A: My mother’s philosophy: “When kids are small, create opportunities for them to have fun as they learn. Help them attach the new learning to the power of effort and not necessarily outcome.” She believed that students in the early years should enjoy learning and build confidence in their effort and creativity, whether it be through reading, writing, playing sports, music, or gardening.Kids will pick and choose those things they really like and want to develop in the upcoming years.
My father’s philosophy: Work ethic matters. Do your own work. Own your mistakes and strive to improve. Complete what you start. When it’s difficult, buckle down, get help, and keep.
Although he sounds harsher than my mother, he made learning fun too. And both he and my mother were supportive in all the things I attempted.
My husband and I followed my parents’ philosophies as we raised our kids. We gave them opportunities to try new things, and of course plenty of support. Along the way I learned that it’s important to help students create THEIR best path to be independent — not MINE. Through my children, I learned that learners learn differently and it’s their parents’ and teacher’s roles to scaffold the learning and expectations for student success. And it’s the student’s role to make the effort.
Q: What extracurricular activities do you see yourself connecting with students the most at SMHS? Did you do any similar activities when you were in high school?
A: I love Mock Trial and have experience with classroom mock trials, so yes, I think I could make a fast connection with students engaged in courtroom procedures. I was also an advisor to several student clubs like Model UN, NHS, World Cultures, and ASB leadership. Also, I love sports immensely.
Q: Hobby wise, I notice that you like to do outdoor sports and stay active. What was your most memorable experience with any of the sports or hobbies you participated in?
A: I played softball and soccer in high school and I loved getting to know my teammates, and developing the interdependence of a thriving, working team. I also liked the individual mental and physical preparation –the hours of practice and the pressure of doing my best. I had the honor of being MVP for softball my senior year. I also enjoyed traveling with All-Star soccer and softball teams around the state. Also, running local trails and placing 1st for my age group in the Mt. Wilson Trail Race is a great memory.
But teaching our kids to ski, I think, is the most memorable experience. With skiing, there’s a lot of clothes, gear, etc, and keeping the kids warm and focused is quite a challenge. Teaching them to pizza (point the skis in) to stop and to french fry (keeping the skis parallel) to go forward, and to shift weight to make turns was a lot of work, but it yielded a lot of reward. At the end of a ski day, my son and I thought we would do a couple of small jumps to get a little air, but the jumps were too steep and we both went too high and crashed hard. To this day we laugh about our “yard sale” which is what people on the lifts over our heads say to people like us who spill out all over the snow with skis, gloves, and poles all over the place.
Q: If you could go back in time to when you were a high school student, what would you tell yourself?
A: I would tell my high school self a few things:
- Go out for anything that interests you (sports, clubs, extracurricular activities, classes). See where it leads you
- Pick friends that bring you up, not ones who pull you down
- You can tell who your true friends are when they celebrate your wins with you and they are not jealous or try to undercut your success
- Your character matters! When you get older, if your conscience is built well, you will be proud of yourself for working hard, doing your own work, and treating others well.
San Marino is fortunate to have an amazing administrator and individual in Mrs. Penalora to help lead our school, maximizing every student’s potential and making our community a better place.
