An Interview with the principal of Avalon High School

// A blog by Sergio Centeno

This week I had the honor of sitting down with the one and only Regina Awtry, Principal of Avalon High School. We chatted about many things, but mostly about her journey to becoming the principal at Avalon High School and the influential role of Sharefest in the success in her school.

Although Ms. Awtry currently resides in sunny southern California, she is originally from New York. Before she arrived here in California, she made a stop in Texas where she received her education. Following in her father’s footsteps she decided to become an educator.

Regina Awtry has worked in the position of dean at various high schools in Los Angeles. In her job, she began to pick up on commonalities in the students that often showed up in her office. She noticed that these students needed a different atmosphere to thrive. As a result they oftentimes transferred to continuation high schools. Eventually she decided to become a direct part of the solution by becoming the principal of a continuation high school.

According to Ms. Awtry Sharefest has helped support the overall instructional program at Avalon High School, and has helped fill the gaps that often arise when working with at-risk youth. These areas that often go overlooked include mentoring, tutoring, and quality afterschool programs that keep kids mentally engaged and off the streets and out of trouble. The types of programs that Sharefest has provided give these students a reason to come to school, and give them a voice. The students have since asked for additional programs such as art, mural painting, and career readiness. Sharefest has played an instrumental role in helping students build relationships with caring adults and community members. Sharefest has also engaged the kids and given them opportunities to be involved in giving back to the community. Ms. Awtry believes Sharefest has done an amazing job hopes that in the future the organization will be able to reach out to even more students.

We are really lucky to have Regina Awtry as the principal of Avalon High School and as a terrific citizen of our community.