At its June 5 meeting, Claremont Unified School District’s Board of Education named former El Roble Intermediate School Vice Principal Melissa Samson as its new principal following the resignation of Richard McAlindin.

The board also recognized the following:

• Student Board of Education members Eli George of San Antonio High School and Soleil Rivera, Claremont High School, for their service. Andres Zamora, SAHS, and Samantha Gutierrez, CHS, will be student board members in 2025-26.
• Claremont High junior Andrea Dorantes and sophomore Jolean Feng for their achievements at the 2025 artistic discovery contest. Andrea’s piece,“Baking Bliss,” took home second overall and a $500 scholarship; Jolean’s “Hope for a Greener Future” won the elk’s choice award and a $750 prize. Both works will be on display over the next year at Congresswoman Judy Chu’s Claremont office, 415 W. Foothill Blvd., Suite 122.
• Isabelle Shie, a CHS senior who won last month in informative speaking at the 66th annual California High School Speech Association State Championship. Isabelle spoke about monosodium glutamate, or MSG.
• Students who participated in this year’s directing change program and film contest, including Andrea Dorantes, Jolean Feng, Evalyn Lohr, Luna Tusques, Lola Garcia, Samantha Juneau, Kelsey Struve, Devan Zarate, Douglass Johnson, Aarion Kennebrew, Ishan Khedia, Eli Rodriguez, Andrew Rosales, Vivian Perez, Angelique Wiesner, Alexandria Kazandona, Max Uribe, Talia Maestro, Linnea Anderson, Oziah Pada, Milo Pucci, Hannah Flores, Ella Millar, Mairead Lucke, Brooke Barraza, Julianna Cuellar, Mia Poovakad, Oliver Kolb, Moxie Moore, Alexa Sobenes, Charlie De La Rosa, Clemente Escalante, Darby Craigmyle, Emma DeWees, Kayley Chambers-Swanson, Kody Herrejon-Rutte, Lily Rienstra, and Xin Lu.
• Brad Cuff, who came out of retirement to serve as Vista del Valle Elementary School principal from May 19 to June 12following the retirement of interim principal Michelle Dynes.