Curtis replaces Schillinger as director of pupil services
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Susan Curtis

Susan Curtis is the new director of pupil services for the Las Virgenes Unified School District. She brings to the post a 28-year background in special education.

Curtis replaces Mary Schillinger, who has been promoted to assistant superintendent of education, a position that had been held by Joe Nardo, who retired after 41 years with the district. He will continue to work with the district part-time on special assignments.

Curtis hails from the Beverly Hills Unified School District, where she served for seven years as special education coordinator.

Although the Las Virgenes district is three times the size of Beverly Hills Unified, Curtis said its percentage of children who receive special education services is the same.

"I think they have wonderful (special education) programs here," Curtis said of those she's reviewed so far. Especially impressed with the behavioral services available to Las Virgenes students, including "social skills" programs, she also believes the district has developed exceptional programs for children with autism.

Mary Schillinger

Getting acquainted with the schools' staffs has been her first mission. A critical part of her role will be to forge relationships with the families of special needs children.

"In Beverly Hills, I knew the families very well," Curtis said. With at least twice as many families to meet with here, Curtis believes personal contact will be a vital component of her job.

She has been welcomed with open arms so far, and has found the children and their families "warm and wonderful."

Curtis said she wants to help all students reach their full potential and "get them ready for the real world."

She launched a special education career in 1979 as a high school teacher. In 2001, she was promoted to coordinator of special education at Beverly Hills Unified district headquarters.

"Susan is great. We're delighted to have her on board," Schillinger said. "She comes from a long history in special education, which is critical to (the post of) director of pupil services. Her former district has a very similar population, so she's feeling very comfortable here."

Curtis completed her undergraduate degree in education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Davis and earned a graduate degree from USC. "Born and bred" in Los Angeles, Curtis said she plans to remain in her longtime Westside home. She has two adult children.

Schillinger's new assignment

New Assistant Superintendent of Education Schillinger has a big job. In her previous role of director of pupil services, she oversaw special education programs. In the new position she will manage education and curriculum for students from preschool through 12th grade. She will supervise Curtis, as well as Rose Dunn, director of elementary education; Jim Nielsen, director of secondary education, and a new director of education technology whose name has yet to be released.

"It's like putting that final piece in the puzzle," Schillinger said of the technology position. "It's really going to make a comprehensive program."

She launched her career in general education in Montana. After moving to California in 1982, she worked as a special education teacher in Simi Valley.

Before joining the Las Virgenes in 2004, she was coordinator of the Simi Valley Unified School District Schools Integration Project and the accreditation program of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. "I love being able to work with the entire district," Schillinger said.