School Principal

Carmen Saenz is the principal at Manzanita Elementary this school year. She had previously worked at Joshua Hills for the past two years. Ms. Saenz began her career in education as a teacher’s assistant right after high school. She continued her studies at Cal State Los Angeles, where she earned a BA in Child Development along with her preliminary teaching credential. After receiving her degree, she applied to become a teacher for Los Angeles Unified School District. She was then hired as a special education teacher in East Los Angeles, where she worked for 10 years. She then worked as an instructional coach for two years at a high school. Her career then continued to expand when she became a program specialist and supported schools with special education programs. Ms. Saenz then applied to be an assistant principal for Palmdale School District. She was hired and now lives in the Antelope Valley with her three children. She continues to learn every day and is grateful for having the opportunity to work in a field she enjoys. Her passion is supporting student achievement by working together with students, staff, and parents.