Jamie Norell was announced as Walnut High School’s principal on Friday May 30 via email, to replace Dr. Michele Lew following her resignation on Wednesday May 21. During the meet and greet on June 18, many staff attended and had the chance to introduce themselves to Norell.
Associated Student Body officers for the 2025–2026 school year were able to attend and introduce themselves to Norell and welcome her on behalf of the student body. “[The community] is super kind and just authentic. It’s such a wonderful place,” Norell said. “You don’t feel like you’re coming to learn, you feel like you’re coming to spend the day with your closest friends.”
Previously, Norell undertook the role of Principal at Glendora High for two and a half years. Preceding this, Norell was hired as a social science teacher and cross country coach before undertaking the role of Assistant Principal for a combined 17 years. Norell is the daughter of former late principa Dr. Ken Gunn and a class of ‘88 alumna. “Obviously, there’s the personal draw [to Walnut], and having spent so much time [here], it was just always a special place,” Norell said.
“I was waiting in the principal’s conference room and up on the board, he [Ken Gunn] had ‘raising kids comes first’ written on the board,” said Norell. “No matter what tough decision, it has to be for what’s best for kids and making sure that we are always striving to do our best [that’s why] ‘Kids Come First’ is my motto.”
Norell’s appointment as principal comes amid a greater transition within the school’s administrative team as a number of key leadership roles had to be filled in.
Valerie Varela has been appointed Walnut’s new athletic director. Previous to her current role at Walnut, Varela was a co-athletic director at Rowland High School for almost eight years, and was also the head coach for their school’s volleyball team.
Dr. Ryan McDonnell was appointed as one of the school’s new Instructional deans. McDonnell grew up in the Walnut Valley Unified School District, as an alumni from Walnut Elementary, South Pointe Middle School and Diamond Bar High School. He has served as the principal at Mt. SAC Early College Academy for three years and the principal for a different school for four years. The principal for another school for five years, teacher and activities director at that same school for five years, and a teacher there for two years.
“Having a new dean team, Athletic Director and principal makes it a great opportunity for me to be a part of some growth here at Walnut,” McDonnell said. “I’m really looking forward to learning all there is to know about Walnut High School, which means looking into students, families, parents, the community and even more.”
Norell graduated from University of California Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. After graduating, Norell returned to Azusa Pacific University to receive her single subject teaching credential and a Master’s degree in educational administration.
Current Walnut High staff are anticipating the new year with the new admin. “I think this year is going to be a turning point for this school and the beneficiaries are going to be all the students,” Associated Student Body Adviser Andy Schultz said. “Her father hired me and I loved his philosophy [and since] I’ve known Jamie for a long time I think she’s going to have a similar philosophy.”
