CITY: School Districts – Simi Valley USD

TOP * Trustee Area D: Pietrolungo * Greenfield * Trustee Area E: Rosuck * Lewis

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Simi Valley USD, Trustee Area D- Vote for (1)

TOP * Trustee Area D: Pietrolungo * Greenfield * Trustee Area E: Rosuck * Lewis

Stephen Pietrolungo (D) – Appointed Incumbent

  • Party: Democrat
  • Residence: Simi Valley
  • Employment & experience:
    • Trustee, Simi Valley Unified School District (2025-present)
    • Principal of Monte Vista Independent Study Academy
    • Principal of Simi Valley High School
    • Educator at Simi Valley Unified School District
  • Organizations: Simi Valley Indivisible, Simi Valley Police Officers Association
  • Links:
  • Article: (simivalleyacorn.com) Veteran educator called on to fill school board seat
    “Retired principal Stephen Pietrolungo, known to generations of students and parents as “Dr. P,” has been appointed to fill the recently vacated Area D seat on the Simi Valley Unified School District Board of Education.
    The board voted 3-1 during a special meeting July 28 at Simi Valley City Hall to appoint Pietrolungo, with Trustee Ron Resnick casting the lone dissenting vote.
    The decision drew applause from the audience as Superintendent Hani Youssef congratulated the longtime educator, who will serve the remaining 18 months of Kristina Pine’s four-year term through 2026.
    Pine, who was elected in 2022 and became board president earlier this year, resigned June 16 after legal counsel warned that her spouse’s hiring as a district teacher might violate state conflict-of-interest laws.
    Pietrolungo’s appointment came after a three-hour meeting where the board interviewed five qualified applicants, giving each 30 minutes to answer questions. Other candidates included James Greenfield, Elizabeth Larevaa, Don Brodt, and Sharon Porter.
    One applicant, retired Simi Valley High School teacher Michael Pulsipher, said he withdrew from consideration when he heard Pietrolungo was applying.
    “I couldn’t think of anybody better to represent the interests of the community,” he said of Pietrolungo.
    Pietrolungo brings more than 40 years of experience to the role. He began teaching in Los Angeles Unified in 1978 before joining SVUSD in 1997, serving as assistant principal and later principal at multiple schools, including a decade at Simi Valley High.
    In 2015, he revitalized Monte Vista School’s independent learning program before retiring in 2024. His career earned him numerous honors, including Lifetime Achievement awards from both the Simi Valley Education Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce, and Educator of the Year from the Cultural Arts Center.”

TOP * Trustee Area D: Pietrolungo * Greenfield * Trustee Area E: Rosuck * Lewis

James M. Greenfield (R) Sanitation Operations Manager

  • Party: Republican
  • Residence: Simi Valley
  • Education:
    • Completed trade school in the San Fernando Valley to become a certified welder
    • Degree from Pierce College
  • Employment & experience:
    • Worked in structural steel fabrication before entering an apprenticeship with the Operating Engineers in 1985
    • Worked for C.A. Rasmussen on the Indian Hills housing development
    • Began as an Equipment Oiler and worked his way up to Journeyman Heavy Duty Repairman-Welder during an 11-year career with the union
    • Worked for City of Los Angeles starting in 1995, rising to Division Operations Manager with LA Sanitation
    • Served as an adjunct professor at Pierce College, where he directed the Welding Technology Program for four and a half years
  • Priorities:
    • Put students first
    • Respect parents
    • Restore academic excellence
    • Improve reading and math proficiency
    • Protect student safety
    • Demand transparency and accountability
    • Spend taxpayer dollars responsibly
  • Endorsements:
  • Elected Officials: Barbara Williamson, Former Simi Valley Council Member 1992-2014; Lou Lichtl, Ventura County Community College District Board Trustee Area 2; Richard Lucas, Ventura County Board of Education Trustee Area 3; Joe Piechowski, Ventura County Community College District Board Trustee Area 4; Dr. Ron Resnick, Simi Valley Unified School Board Trustee Area C
  • Links:
COMMUNITY LEADERS
– Barbara Williamson, Former Simi Valley Council Member 1992-2014

TOP * Trustee Area D: Pietrolungo * Greenfield * Trustee Area E: Rosuck * Lewis

Simi Valley USD, Trustee Area E – Vote for (1)

Ryan Rosuck (D) – Educator/Mother

  • Party: Democrat
  • Residence: Simi Valley
  • Education:
    • Bachelor of Arts in English from UC Santa Barbara
    • Master of Education from the University of Phoenix
    • Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California Lutheran University
  • Employment & experience:
    • taught for 20 years in Simi Valley Unified schools – as a National Board Certified English Language Arts teacher at Sinaloa Middle School and Simi Valley High School
    • now serves as Assistant Principal at A.C. Stelle Middle School in the Las Virgenes Unified School District
    • Ventura County Office of Education mentor for new teachers
    • advisor to student programs including GSA, Mock Trial, and the Wellness Club
  • Priorities:
    • Transparent governance by making information accessible before decisions are finalized, not simply reporting decisions after they’ve already been made.
    • Students at the center – Before every budget decision, as how will this decision help or hinder students and their future?
    • Provide oversight informed by experience – Ask thoughtful questions and respect who implements the answer.
  • Links: Campaign Website: https://www.votefordrryansvsb.com/
  • Letter to the Editor:
    • (simivalleyacorn.com) I have lived in Simi Valley since 1985. My children went through the Simi Valley school system. I have reviewed all the candidates running for office in my district in the upcoming elections. I believe they are all good and sincere people. However, in my view, the following are the best among the best.
      Dr. Ryan Rosuck for school board, Area E: Rosuck holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and has already had a successful career as both a teacher and an administrator in Simi Valley. She is also a recipient of the Lew Roth Award. Her priorities include promoting safe environment for academic success, and creating opportunities for every student to excel. I was especially impressed to see her going door-to-door in the unbearable heat.
      Kareem Jubran for mayor of Simi Valley: Kareem, an engineer with degrees from UCLA and USC, is a true product of Simi Valley. He grew up here and is now raising his family here. As an engineer, he has overseen large, complex, and high-risk healthcare and infrastructure construction projects. He has also served as president of the Simi Valley School Board and has been continuously elected as a School Board Trustee since 2018. His vision is to ensure that the dreams of every Simi Valley child remain within reach.
      Sam Cohen for City Council, District 2: I have seen Sam in action as a Neighborhood Council board member and as its chair. He has a quick grasp of complex issues and, drawing on his engineering background, comes up with viable solutions.
      His vision for Simi Valley includes safety (prevent dangerous power shutoffs, address deteriorating roads, minimize opportunities for crime); transparency (communication); and community (create more opportunities for young people and support programs that strengthen our community). 
      Satish Shah, Simi Valley
SIMI VALLEY DEM
COMMUNITY LEADERS
– Liam Andres O’Neill Hernandez
– Jill Craft, Current Educator and Former Principal at SVUSD
– Satish Shaw

TOP * Trustee Area D: Pietrolungo * Greenfield * Trustee Area E: Rosuck * Lewis

Jodi C. Lewis (DTS) – Senior Operations Manager

  • Party: declines to state
  • Residence: Simi Valley
  • Employment & experience:
    • Current President of Simi Valley Football Booster Club
    • Former Board Chair at the Samaritan Center
    • Ventura Santa Barbara Lead for Women, Communications Chair
    • Simi Valley Bulldogs Youth Football Volunteer
    • Grace Brethren Youth Football Volunteer
    • Township Elementary PTA Volunteer
  • Priorities:
    • transparent communication
    • responsible resource stewardship
    • decisions grounded in what is best for students rather than politics or personal agendas
    • strengthen partnerships between families, educators, and the district
    • teachers deserve meaningful support
    • students deserve opportunities that match their diverse needs
    • community deserves a board that listens
    • leadership the models honesty, accountability, and compassion
  • Links:
COMMUNITY LEADERS
– Dr. Ron Rescigno, Retired Superintendent of Port Hueneme and Coach
– Joelle Cardona, Athletic Director
– Tanya Wismann, Educator
– Ted Jeires, CFO, Greenback Financial Services, APC
– Dr. Sandra Samon, Investment Executive
– Doug Semones, Assistant Head Coach

TOP * Trustee Area D: Pietrolungo * Greenfield * Trustee Area E: Rosuck * Lewis