Simi Valley Unified School District

ALLISON MCMARTIN
Assistant Principal
Simi Valley High School
Ms. Allison McMartin was raised in Simi Valley and attended White Oak Elementary School, Valley View Middle School and Santa Susana High School. Her mother, Deborah Ibbott, was a teacher at White Oak for 19 years, and Ms. McMartin said she would not be in education if not for her mother’s inspiration.
“My mother was a teacher and always encouraged me to pursue higher education,” she said. “She loves to tell the story of how, whenever I played with dolls as a young girl, she’d remind me that Barbie had to go to college before she could marry Ken.”
Ms. McMartin earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of California-Davis in Human Development. She then earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Pepperdine University, and her Master’s in Educational Leadership from California State University-Channel Islands.
Her teaching career brought her back to Simi Valley Schools, starting in 2012 when she first worked at Park View Elementary School, then at Crestview Elementary Schools, followed by Santa Susana Elementary School. She returned to Crestview in 2015, where she stayed until 2024 when she was promoted to Professional Learning Coach and assigned to her first scholastic home, White Oak Elementary School.
“Being the PLC Coach at White Oak allowed me to step outside of the classroom and see a school as a complex system with all of the moving parts working together,” she said. “That experience has broadened my understanding of how everything connects, from teacher collaboration to school culture and, ultimately, student success. Seeing how these behind-the-scenes efforts directly led to happier, more engaged students in the hallways and the classrooms was incredibly rewarding. I'm excited to bring this perspective to my new role as an assistant principal.”
Ms. McMartin and her husband are the parents of three boys, two in elementary school and one entering high school. She said that this and her full-time work does not allow for a lot of free time, but when she does have it, she enjoys traveling, sewing, and “all things Lord of the Rings.”

LUCY LOMBARDI
Assistant Principal
Hillside Middle School
We welcome Ms. Lucy Lombardi as she comes to Simi Valley Schools from the Conejo Valley Unified School District where she served as an Instructional Media Technician for the last two years. For almost 20 years before this, Ms. Lombardi worked at several different schools in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria (her hometown) where she taught English and coached track and field at middle and high schools.
She earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Education and English from the University of Rhode Island and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from California Lutheran University.
“I came into education because I wanted to share my passion for discovering all that this amazing world has to offer my students,” she said. “I started this journey as a 14-year-old preschool volunteer and since then have worn many hats as an educator, including Grade Level Dean, English teacher, librarian, advisor, and coach. It’s an absolute joy to serve my students in a way that instills confidence and enthusiasm for learning!”
Coming into Hillside Middle School, Ms. Lombardi said she wants to foster a supportive, creative, successful, and student-centered learning environment.
“Watching the spark of the aha moment upon a discovery, the intense joy of finally achieving a goal, or the magic of the resilient comeback after a hard lesson learned have always been my favorite moments of working with my students in the classroom, on the track, and throughout the campus. These moments remind me why what we do matters. We inspire curiosity, cultivate confidence, and help every student realize their potential to shape their own future and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.”
When she isn’t working, Ms. Lombardi can often be found running the trails with her Labrador and taking in the beauty of local outdoor spaces.
“I have hiked the John Muir Trail in a 200% snow year, tackled the peaks in SoCal in one summer, and summited Mt. Whitney in a single day. Weekends and summer are for adventures.
“I also love going to the beach and pool with my three kids, exploring artistic endeavors, and discovering nearby foodie hot spots.”

Our last group of 2026 high school seniors graduated tonight. Congratulations to Apollo High School! Their students always warm our hearts because they often have overcome unbelievable challenges to earn their diplomas. Apollo’s staff is dedicated to their students’ achievement and we are grateful for yoir professionalism and commitment. We know that every Apollo student tonight will go from here to anywhere!!!

SANTA SUSANA HIGH SCHOOL is the last graduation this week. About 230 Troubadours gathered under the stars in front of their amphitheater to say goodbye to their beloved school. We wish each of them a wonderful summer and we cannot wait to see what they do with their lives!

SIMI VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL'S graduation was also held earlier tonight in their stadium. About 478 Pioneer seniors said good bye to their school, the largest in the Simi Valley Unified School District. Go far, Pioneers!!

ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL'S graduation was held tonight in the school's stadium. About 410 seniors graduated from the District's second largest school. In a homecoming of a different kind, Principal Reina Zapata welcomed her predecessor, former Principal Michael Hall, to the stage to celebrate his son Ethan's graduation. We are so very proud of our Highlanders, and all of our graduates!

THE FIRST OF FIVE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS! Monte Vista School, our independent study academy, held its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 3 at the campus. Sixty-five high school seniors were celebrated in front of friends, family members, teachers and staff. Congratulations Monte Vista Lions! We know that you will go from here to anywhere!

TODAY starts Graduation Week for Simi Valley Schools. Monte Vista School will hold its ceremony at 6 p.m. tonight. Tomorrow morning, our three middle schools (HIllside, Sinaloa and Valley View middle schools) will have their 8th grade promotion events. Tomorrow night, our three largest high schools, Royal, Santa Susana and Simi Valley high schools, will have their ceremonies. On June 10, Apollo High School will hold its celebration. Please be cautious and patient when driving near our campuses during their respective events. We are very proud of all of our students, and especially our 1,224 graduating high school seniors. From their acceptance into almost 300 distinguished and diverse higher education institutions to pursuing their career goals and serving our country, our seniors are truly going from here to anywhere!