Porterville High School staff members go above and beyond in meeting students’ academic, social, and emotional needs because we have amazing teachers and incredible leaders on our administration team who make sure we have everything we need to thrive. Over the last few weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing our entire admin team: Mr. Valdez, Mr. Navarro, Mrs. Ramirez, Dr. Alcantar, and Ms. Salas. Here’s a special look at each of our administrators so that you can get to know them better.

Mr. Valdez, Principal

What advice would you give to students thinking about becoming leaders?

“I would encourage them to take a risk and to jump at the opportunity. When students take a risk and push themselves, they become the best versions of themselves, and in life, you always have to push yourself to be successful.”

If you had to swap jobs with any staff member for a day, who would it be, and what would you hope to learn?

“I don’t know if I would want to switch with anyone, but what I can tell you is that all the jobs here are challenging, they are all difficult, everyone has many responsibilities, and all of our focus is on providing you students a safe environment along with an environment to maximize all of your guys’ potential.”

What challenges do you face as the leader you are?

“The challenges that I face daily are removing obstacles from all of our staff to allow them to be great and give you guys the best quality instruction.”

What song would you say best represents your leadership style and why?

“Wow, I’ve never been asked that question before. Just remember, don’t stop believing in your journey.”

Dr. Alcantar, Assistant Principal

What is one lesson you’ve learned as an administrator that you wish you had known as a student? 

“It’s okay to ask for help. I encourage students to come to the office for help. You are not alone.”

How do you define success for Porterville High School students?

“Success for Porterville High Students is reaching their potential and having the opportunity.”

Now that you’ve settled into PHS, what stands out to you as unique about this school?

“What makes PHS unique is its culture, tradition, and school spirit as well as our teachers.” 

How has your background in teaching math influenced your approach as an administrator?

“My background in math influences my administrative life by helping me investigate different issues and judgments.”

What goals do you have for juniors this year, and how do you hope to prepare them for their senior year and beyond?

“My goals are to help students know about their options after high school, while supporting them and helping them catch up for their life after high school.”

If you had to swap jobs with one staff member for a day, whose role would you want to try, and what would you hope to learn?

“If I could swap jobs with anyone…Mr. Hill, because he’s involved, has good relationships, and is involved with ASB, and it would be cool to be involved in ASB. Mr. Hill and Ms. Revheim are two involved individuals with good positions.”

If PHS wrote a “yearbook message” about you, what do you think it would say?

“Maybe Friendly and approachable. I give students fistbumps, I interact with students, I’d hope for only the best.” 

Mr. Navarro, Assistant Principal

Mr. Navarro, what do you enjoy most about being vice principal here at Porterville High School?

“I enjoy everything about our school, I love watching our school games, interacting, and watching students grow.”

How long have you been a vice principal here at Porterville High School?

“I have worked here for 9 years.”

What did you do before working here?

“Before working here I was a principal at an elementary school.”

What is your favorite movie?

“My favorite movie is Dances with Wolves.”

What is your favorite treat?

“My favorite treat is warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream.”

What is your favorite hobby?

“My favorite hobby is riding horses.”

Where did you go to college?

“UC Davis.”

What are the challenges of being a vice principal here at Porterville High School?

“Dealing with students who break certain rules and they feel like we’re picking on them, it’s one of the hardest things to do. We try to get their mindsets to change to where they’re not blaming me for something I didn’t do but blaming themselves for something they did wrong.”

Mrs. Ramirez, Assistant Principal

What advice would you give to students who are thinking about becoming teachers, counselors, or school leaders in the future?

“Well, I think if you want to work in education, you have to truly want to help people especially students. I came from elementary school, where I taught mostly third grade for about 16 years, along with some second and fourth grade. And honestly, you can’t teach someone to love kids. You just have to genuinely care about them and want to help them succeed. So, my first piece of advice would be: love kids and be kind to them. After that, you need to go to college. I started at Porterville College, then transferred to Cal State Bakersfield, and later earned my master’s degree from Fresno Pacific. It doesn’t matter what school you go to, as long as you stay committed and earn your bachelor’s degree. And remember, when you choose to be an educator, you’re a lifelong learner. I’m 51, and I’m still learning every day. So stick with it, follow the steps, and it will all work out. It’s a great journey.”

How would you say you carry that role of being a leader in your leadership through your job? 

“How do I carry the role? Let’s see. When students come in at the age of 14, they’re very different by the time they’re almost 18 and getting ready to leave us. So, you have to be very patient. I think that, as an administrator, I’ve really learned how to be patient and how to listen because sometimes, kids just need someone to listen to them. At the same time, I’m a rule follower, and I believe that for a school to function well, everyone needs to follow the rules. So, I think it’s a combination of patience, listening, and consistency that helps me be a good leader and administrator.”

What is one hard challenge you had to overcome being an administrator?

“Now that I’m here at PHS, it’s different. I was an administrator at Granite for about six years, though the years start to blend together. I’m starting my second school year here at Porterville. I completed one full school year, and now this is technically my second year. Personally, my biggest challenge was going from a school with only about 1,200 students to one with 2,200 or 2,300. That adjustment was really significant. But beyond that, I think the hardest part for me is when students are struggling. I have a very heavy heart when it comes to kids who need extra support at home. One of my biggest personal struggles has been helping a student I knew was going through a really hard time. It stays with you.”

What song would you say best represents your leadership style?

“I don’t know who sings it, but the song ‘Happy’ by Pharrell really represents me. The song makes me happy, it’s upbeat and fun, and I love it because I think it reflects who I am. I’m always trying to stay positive. I’m a glass-half-full, not half-empty kind of girl. I’m typically a really happy person. I love mornings early mornings they are actually my favorite. So I’d say that song fits me pretty well. Plus, it’s one of my mom’s favorite songs too, which makes it even more special. Honestly, that’s a hard question because I love music. I could probably give you a whole list of songs.”

If you had to swap jobs with one staff member for a day, whose role would you want to try, and what would you hope to learn?

“I would swap with Ms. Revheim and Mr. Hill, I guess they go hand in hand. I just love the culture they bring here at Porterville High School. That’s one of the things that makes me love the school so much is the history and the culture behind the school. And an active ASB has such a huge role in that. If it weren’t for people like Revheim and Hill, who put in so many extra hours behind the scenes, a lot of what makes this school special wouldn’t happen. I always joke with Ms. Revheim that she should list her address as 465 West Olive because she’s here so often, even on weekends. So yes, if I could swap with anyone, it would be Ms. Revheim and Mr. Hill.”

Mrs. Salas, Dean of Counseling

What do you believe is the most I importance skill students should develop before graduation?

“I think students should learn to be resourceful. If they need to find answers or move forward, whether it’s about college or anything else, if they’re not self-sufficient or advocating for themselves, it becomes very difficult for them to advance or get the information they need. Some students, however, are strong advocates for themselves and actively seek answers, which is valuable. This skill doesn’t just help them as students but also in everyday life. Being resourceful and able to make things happen is crucial moving forward. I believe this is one of the most important qualities students can possess.”

How do you help students discover their passions and future career paths?

“I like to work with students on career exploration. We use career surveys and tools that match students’ strengths whether they’re tactile, auditory, or visual learners and tie it to specific career traits and paths they may not have considered. That’s often a tough question for students because it’s hard to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. It’s okay if they don’t know yet, even if parents sometimes put pressure on them. Finding your passion takes time, and I help guide students by providing assessments and resources to explore their options, but ultimately, it’s about helping them identify what excites them for the future.”

What message of encouragement would you share with seniors preparing for life after high school?  

“Stay focused and get to the finish line. Find something you love and are passionate about. Enjoy your family, and live life to the fullest.”

What is one lesson you’ve learned as an administrator that you wish you had known as a student?