- Former Monta Vista High School Assistant Principal Janice Chen takes office as the new Principal.
- Chen’s vision reaches students, parents and staff, aiming to hear their voices and provide support.
- Chen continues to learn about Lynbrook’s culture and spirit.
Former Monta Vista High School assistant principal Janice Chen took office on July 1 as Lynbrook’s new principal. Following former Principal Maria Jackson’s retirement, Chen said she first plans to familiarize herself with Lynbrook’s culture and students in the upcoming school year.
“It’s a great school, and just to be named as principal here has been such an honor,” Chen said.
Chen made appearances at Viking Days and athletic practices to engage with students. Homecoming, she said, has also piqued her interest.
“Everyone’s talking about Homecoming, so that‘s the big thing that I have to see for myself,” Chen said.
Even before the school year began, Chen said she already recognized many of Lynbrook’s key qualities and praised the partnership among parents, staff and students.
“I’ve heard the students have high expectations for themselves, and that they go above and beyond to give back to the community,” Chen said. “Our staff is really hardworking and they’re definitely here for the right reasons.”
With over two decades of experience in education, Chen brings a wealth of passion. During her time as an assistant principal at Monta Vista, her alma mater, Chen played a key role in teacher support and leadership development. According to Monta Vista English teacher and FUHSD English Curriculum Lead Julia Satterthwaite, who worked closely with Chen in the English department, Chen stood out for her ability to guide staff through challenges. When Satterthwaite asked Chen for assistance, she would nudge her department into problem-solving independently.
“She was really big into empowering teachers and coaching us to success in a way that I think is unique to her,” Satterthwaite said.
Chen also worked extensively to ensure that course selection ran smoothly, a process that she knew must also be equitable to support students, teachers and a well-functioning school. Now, Chen is committed to actively communicating with students and laying the groundwork for trust.
Executive assistant Calvin Wong has worked alongside Chen since her arrival, supporting her behind the scenes daily so that she can build relationships as she gets accustomed to the school. Wong first crossed paths with Chen while working at Monta Vista.
“Staff and students will appreciate how much she’s going to be out there learning about who we are,” Wong said. “I think it’s a great choice for Lynbrook to move forward with somebody that grew up in the community and has graduated from our district.”
By the end of her first year as principal, Chen hopes that students and staff will value her support and know that she hears their voices.
“I think for people to be able to share their story and know that they have a voice is important,” Chen said.
