Meet the Principal!

It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce myself as the new principal of Croce Elementary School. I am so excited to join the team of amazing educators at this family centered school. I bring with me a depth of experience in education and leadership. Previously, I served as the vice principal of Christensen Middle School, where I had the privilege of working closely with students, staff, and parents to foster a supportive and enriching learning environment.

Before my role at CMS, my journey in education began as a special education teacher, a role that taught me the importance of individualized learning, inclusive practices, and working as a team to meet the unique needs of our students.

I then spent seven fulfilling years as the Lead Behavior Analyst within LVJUSD. In this role, I partnered with staff and families in utilizing behavior management strategies to help teach children new skills and reduce maladaptive behaviors.

I am eager to bring this diverse background to Croce Elementary and to collaborate with all of you—our supportive and dedicated parents and guardians. Together, I am confident we can build upon the strong foundation that Croce Elementary has established and achieve even greater success.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or concerns you may have. I am here to listen, to learn, and to lead our school community forward in creating the best possible educational experience for every child at Leo R. Croce Elementary.

Thank you for your warm welcome. I am excited to embark on this journey together.

Let's make it a great year!

I wanted to give you some important dates, as the start of school is rapidly approaching! You will receive more communication in the coming days with more details.

August 6th- Office re-opens 8am-4pm

August 8th- Croce Crawl 5pm-7pm

• Come meet your PTA and tour the campus. More info to come!

August 11th- I will open the campus for a few hours on Saturday for you to come tour the campus.

August 13th- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

• Earned my BA with a dual major in Psychology & Spanish
• Earned my MA and Teaching Credential in Special Education
• Began my teaching career working with our young students with disabilities in 2001
  
• Became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2009
• Started working as the Lead Behavior Analyst for LVJUSD in 2014
• Served as Vice Principal of Christensen Middle School for 3 years

1. You can schedule a meeting with me by emailing me at jburkholder@lvjusd.org
2. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and introduce yourself! I would love to see you!