Canyon Lake educator honored by county

Family from out of state, colleagues, board members and the current and former district superintendents at the Murrieta Valley Unified School District joined Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White, as she named Canyon Lake resident Darren Daniel the 2020 Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year.

“I’m humbled by this award. It isn’t something that happens to most people during their career,” Darren said immediately following the surprise. “If someone is going to get to wear this crown in Riverside County, I want it to be someone from this district!”

Darren, Murrieta Valley Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, first entered public education as a walk-on coach and substitute teacher 25 years ago. Since that time, he has served as a full-time teacher, assistant principal, principal, executive director of secondary education, and now assistant superintendent—all within the Murrieta Valley Unified School District.

“You consistently implement and construct a vision that allows the district to center on what matters most: the kids and the community you serve,” Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White, said as she addressed Darren at the surprise visit. “Your type of servant leadership is necessary in the entire field of education and you have made a significant difference in Murrieta.”

In his time leading the human resources team, Darren has developed a system of continuous improvement by updating and implementing human resource practices and habits to improve recruitment, retention, and employee services, the county team said.

This has included increasing customer service, going paperless, collaborative assessment of processes with the team, and continual professional development. He was also instrumental in creating the Administrators Training Program to develop new leaders and in re-energizing the dual enrollment program to provide access to higher education for the district’s high school students.

Darren is described by colleagues as exhibiting “a spirit of optimism and belief that all students and staff can achieve and perform at high levels no matter the circumstances.”

The Riverside County Educators of the Year are selected from the more than 36,000 educational employees in the county. The rigorous application process starts with nominations by teachers, classified employees and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where an outside selection committee selects the honorees before the county superintendent announces the honorees.

Along with the 2020 Riverside County Teachers of the Year, Darren and the other Educators of the Year will be honored at the Riverside County Celebrating Educators Luncheon at the Riverside Convention Center on May 5.