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Administration at select school sites in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District have undergone some changes for the 2025-26 school year.
Sites with new leadership include William Mendenhall Middle School, the Del Valle Continuation High School and Vineyard Alternative School campus, Junction Avenue TK-8 School and Christensen Middle School.
Among the changes, Erik Taylor is the new principal of the Del Valle and Vineyard Alternative campus after serving as principal at Mendenhall. Taylor had previously served at the helm of Del Valle Continuation High School, according to the Mendenhall website.
The position at the Del Valle and Vineyard Alternative campus was vacated by Tammy Rankin, who resigned at the end of last school year, according to district officials.
In Taylor’s absence, Garrett Fitch assumed the helm at Mendenhall on July 1. Fitch had previously served as the school’s vice principal beginning summer of 2023.
“Honestly, this is such a blessing,” Fitch said of his promotion. “I am looking forward to the challenge and am so excited to continue the work we already started here at MMS. This is an incredible place with amazing staff, students and parents.”
Taking over for Fitch as vice principal at Mendenhall was Tara Rodrigues, a former school counselor in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District who worked at the middle school level for 12 years.
Rodrigues holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in education. She also holds a pupil personnel services credential as well as an administrative services credential.
Rodrigues was the district’s only new hire at the site administration level for this school year, according to district officials.
“Things are off to a great start and I can’t wait to see what the year holds,” Rodrigues told Livermore Vine since officially beginning her role July 1.
“I’m really looking forward to working together to make school a positive place for everyone — and I’m so excited to be part of the Mendenhall family,” Rodrigues added.
Also at the level of vice principal, LVJUSD cut one of the two posts at Junction for the 2025-26 school year as part of budget reductions, according to district officials.
As a result of the cut, former Junction vice principal Lauren Shiffrin-Chi transitioned to vice principal at Christensen.
The previous vice principal at Christensen, Janine Mains, was bumped from the role and became a teacher on special assignment due to the reduction and seniority, according to district officials. Mains had stepped up as vice principal at Christensen for the 2024-25 school year.
