-
It is my pleasure to serve as the Principal of Barrel Springs Elementary School! This is my fifth year in educational leadership. Prior to becoming principal this year at Barrel Springs, I was an Assistant Principal at Palm Tree Elementary School for four years. Even with all of these years of experience as an educational leader, I will always be a teacher at heart. I have 19 years of experience as a classroom teacher in the Palmdale School District. My educational background includes a Degree in Early Childhood from Antelope Valley College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Morris College, a California Teaching Credential from Cal State University Bakersfield and a Master’s Degree in Administration from National University. By pursuing lifelong learning, I intend to be an example to students and teachers that we should never stop learning.
I am blessed to be the wife of James D. Thorogood and the mother of five amazing children, Antwan, James T., Renita, Travis and Terrell Thorogood. They inspire me daily. I have high expectations and great belief in my children as I also do for the Barrel Springs students, who I look at as my own. I want to see them all excel and become productive human beings, who have ample opportunities to become whatever they want to be.
It is my privilege to lead Barrel Springs Elementary School as one big family. My goal is to provide a safe, welcoming, supportive climate and culture at Barrel Springs that is conducive to teaching and learning. By doing so, each individual student and stakeholder can experience growth to reach their highest potential.
Mrs. Rena Thorogood
rthorogood@palmdalesd.org
Principal
Barrel Springs Elementary School
-
Hello! My name is Maria Castro. I am very excited to have become part of the Barrel Springs family as the new Assistant Principal. I have been employed by the Palmdale School District for over 30 years. Apart from having taught numerous grade levels, my teaching career focused on the Dual Immersion programs, offered at our district’s schools. I have also worked as a Special Projects Teacher, and have served as an Assistant Principal at different school sites. I was born in Mexico City, and arrived in the United States as a teenager. I moved to the Antelope Valley in 1988. In 1991, I graduated from Antelope Valley College with an Associates’ Degree in Early Childhood Education. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master’s degree in School Administration from Chapman University. In 2020, I was awarded the California Bilingual Education Teacher of the year award (CABE). I am happily married and have 5 children. I firmly believe that education is the path to open doors of opportunity that can improve the lives of our students. We must provide them with equal access to learning by supporting and holding high expectations for every student who walks onto our campuses. We must provide our students with the tools to become critical thinkers, so they are able to incorporate, and function in our global society. Additionally, we need to stay atop of the latest educational research to incorporate best practice methods to assist our students to figure out, how they can become of service to our community. I am looking forward to a wonderful and productive 2022-2023 school year!
Maria Castro
