by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Over the last few weeks, the Courier reached out to public school districts in Claremont, Pomona, La Verne, Glendora, Azusa, and Upland to inquire about the annual salaries and benefits packages of their superintendents, assistant superintendents, and heads of educational services. We took our student numbers from the California Department of Education School Dashboard.

Here is the comparison: 

Claremont Unified School District, 6,261 students

• Superintendent Jim Elsasser’s annual salary: $362,328
• Desiree Reyes, assistant superintendent, business services: $221,379
• Julie Olesniewicz, assistant superintendent, educational services: $237,148
• Rick Lopez, assistant superintendent, human resources: $254,037
• Kevin Ward, assistant superintendent, student services: $262,928
• Sarah Estrada, director of special education: $183,755
• Natalie Taylor Barbiera, director of educational services: $189,018
• Rria Cruz Soto, director of intervention and English learners programs: $176,450
• Kara Evans, director of educational technology and innovation: $189,018
• Each employee listed above also receives a generous benefits package. Search “benefits” at claremont.edu to learn more.

Glendora Unified School District, 6,363 students

• Superintendent Dominic DiGrazia: $322,321
• Janette Walczak, assistant superintendent, business services: $207,545
• Jennifer Prince, assistant superintendent, educational services: $207,545
• Eric Osborne, assistant superintendent, personnel services: $207,545
• Brian Murray, executive director of special education: $184,301
• Sara Najarro, executive director of teaching, learning, and accountability: $184,301
• Jocelyn Wilson, director of student and family support services: $173,406
• GUSD benefits are viewable at k12.ca.us.

Azusa Unified School District, 6,370 students

• Superintendent Arturo Ortega: $280,818
• Latasha Jamal, assistant superintendent of business: $212,758
• Norma Camacho, assistant superintendent of educational services: $212,758
• Jorge Ronquillo, assistant superintendent of human resources: $212,758
• Lica Juarez, director of communication and community engagement: $165,349
• Adriana Garcia Medina, director of educational services: $165,349
• Erin Kremer, director of special education: $165,349
• AUSD benefits information is at org, search “benefits.”

Upland Unified School District, 9,804 students

• Superintendent Lynn Carmen Day: $360,521, plus a benefits package worth $109,046
• Jennifer De Anda, assistant superintendent, business services: $210,884, plus benefits package worth $70,842
• Pamela Salgado, assistant superintendent, student services: $210,884, plus benefits package worth $74,294
• Ji Kim Wang, assistant superintendent, human resources: $200,725, plus benefits package worth $68,253
• Shinay Bowman, chief academic officer: $237,540, plus benefits package worth $77,033
• Ryan Parry, director of special education: $173,600, plus benefits package worth $65,635

Bonita Unified School District, 9,957 students

• Superintendent Matthew Wien: $290,000
• Sonia Eckley, assistant superintendent, business services: $252,780
• Kevin Lee, assistant superintendent, human resources development: $252,780
• Anne Neal, assistant superintendent, education services: $241,140
• Jessika Mears, director of specialized education programs: $171,396
• Kim Lawe, director of secondary curriculum and instruction: $184,848
• Jaymi Abusham, director of elementary curriculum and instruction: $184,848
• The district’s maximum contribution to health and welfare benefits is $14,000 per year, according to Margaret McDonald, BUSD Superintendent Wien’s senior executive assistant.

Pomona Unified School District, 19,516 students

• Superintendent Darren Knowles: $297,432, plus a benefits package worth $44,061
• Lilia Fuentes, deputy superintendent of educational services: $255,096, plus benefits package worth $22,048
• Sandra Garcia, assistant superintendent, business services and chief business officer: $197,793-$208,735, plus benefits package worth $13,961
• Krystana Walks-Harper, assistant superintendent, pupil and community services: $197,793-$208,735, plus benefits package worth $13,961
• Silvia San Martin, assistant superintendent, human resources: $197,793-$208,735, plus benefits package worth $13,961
• Fernando Meza, assistant superintendent for facilities, maintenance, operations and transportation services: $197,793-$208,735, plus benefits package worth $13,961
• Monica Principe, administrative director of secondary education: $171,759-$181,280, plus benefits package worth $13,961
• Rosario Ambriz, director of pre-kindergarten and elementary curriculum and instruction: $143,471-$168,906, plus benefits package worth $13,961
• Claudia Ruiz, director of special education: $143,471-$168,906, plus benefits package worth $13,961

Note: Despite multiple requests for a clear salary breakdown, PUSD Director of Governmental Affairs Ronald Gonzales-Lawrence provided only ranges for several district positions.