Hello Cottonwood Families,
I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to every one of you as the Principal of Cottonwood School. It is an honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading a school filled with such amazing students, an incredibly dedicated staff, and a supportive community. As we eagerly prepare to begin the school year on August 13th, I am filled with excitement and joy to embark on this journey of learning and growing with you.
This is the beginning of my 30th year in education and my 7th year with the HUSD. I began my love of education in the Marine Corps Reserves when I was given a required opportunity to teach maps and orienteering to members of my platoon. It was a scary thing for me to do at the time, but also very rewarding. This was my introduction to teaching and inspired me to go to school for my credential. I earned my Bachelor's Degree from UC Santa Cruz (Go Banana Slugs), my credential from Bethune College, and my Master’s Degree in School Administration from CSU San Bernardino.
Over the past 29 years, I have served education in a variety of roles and responsibilities. I taught in Kindergarten through 8th Grade. My first 7 years were spent teaching in Spanish and English at a Bilingual School in Watsonville, CA. On a personal note, I am a proud husband and father to six amazing children and three adorable dogs.
Relationships are very important to me and critical to our success as educators. I am dedicated to building relationships with all of you, as well as our scholars, and community members. I know that the education of our scholars can only be done well with the support of our parents and community.
To our incredible students, I cannot wait to see you all! I hope you are excited for the coming school year and all the great things that will take place! Our school is brimming with opportunities for you to discover, explore, and develop essential skills that will prepare you for a bright future!
I believe wholeheartedly that every student deserves a quality education and that only happens when we all work together for the best interests of our children. With that in mind, please know that my door is always open to you. I sincerely welcome your conversations and input throughout the year. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas you would like to share.
In closing, listed below are some key pieces of information for you and your family. Please carefully review each item to be well-prepared for the start of the school year.
Sincerely,
Albert Trudel
P.S. Below you will find important resources, dates, and schedules related to the start of our new school year.
