Two honored in Las Virgenes Unified School District

By Stephanie Bertholdo Acorn Staff Writer

SPECIAL PEOPLE-Debi Poppen, an accounts clerk and bookkeeper at Agoura High School, and Harry Leff, the A.E. Wright Middle School music teacher, were named Classified Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year, respectively by the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education last week.

Harry Leff, a music teacher at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas, and Debi Poppen, an accounts clerk and bookkeeper at Agoura High School, were named Teacher of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year respectively at last week’s board meeting in Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD).

Leff and Poppen were recipients of numerous commendations from LVUSD board members, school and district staff, community leaders and government officials.

Alex Soteras, president of the Agoura/Oak Park/Las Virgenes Chamber of Commerce, introduced the two award winners and presented them with a $50 gift certificate to Gaetano’s restaurant in Calabasas on behalf of the Chamber.

Leff launched his teaching career in 1972 at Lindero Middle School, but has been teaching at A.E. Wright since 1990.

Harry Leff

Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Stephen Hanke was the first to commend Leff. "Harry is dedicated to enhancing student achievement . . . values students, both emotionally and academically . . . and helps each student to reach their maximum potential," Hanke said.

Board president Terilyn Finders called Leff a "complete gift to the community."

Poppen started her career with LVUSD in 1994 and is well known for her personal touch with students working in the student store.

Agoura High School principal Larry Misel said Poppen "is the heartbeat at our school . . . kid friendly" and like a "magnet to students." Misel also commended Poppen on her accounting acumen. She balances the $2 million budget "to the penny," he said.

Both Leff and Poppen received certificates of recognition from the offices of state Assemblywoman Fran Pavley and L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.