Title: Principal
Company: Colton Joint Unified School District
Location: Glendora, California, United States
Tamette L. Rappa, MEd, Principal at Colton Joint Unified School District, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Education Administration.
Ms. Rappa has established a distinguished career in public education spanning three decades, marked by her commitment to student-centered leadership and transformative school culture. Since 2024, she has served as a principal at Colton Joint Unified School District in Bloomington, California. In this capacity, Ms. Rappa oversees daily operations. She also conducts walkthroughs and formal observations, addresses disciplinary matters, attends meetings with district personnel, supervises lunch duty while interacting with and supporting students, covers Individualized Education Program or 504 meetings and coordinates English language development meetings for special events. Ms. Rappa’s expertise has been instrumental in fostering an environment where students feel welcomed, valued and supported.
Before her current role, Ms. Rappa was an assistant principal at Ganesha High School within Pomona Unified School District from 2019 to 2024. During this period, she played a pivotal role in shaping academic programs and supporting both faculty and students. Between 2017 and 2019, Ms. Rappa served as the vice principal of secondary education at Cajon High School in the San Bernardino Unified School District, where she contributed to developing instructional strategies and student engagement initiatives.
Among other high-level positions within the school system, Ms. Rappa served as an administrator for the division of student programs at the Los Angeles County Office of Education from 2015 to 2017. She also served as the director of alternative education and principal at Hillside High School within the Upland Unified School District and excelled as an assistant principal overseeing athletics, activities, special education, regional occupational programs/career technical education, facilities, and testing at Canyon High School and Villa Park High School within the Orange Unified School District. Earlier, Ms. Rappa’s administrative experience included serving as assistant principal responsible for activities, athletics, facilities and professional development at San Clemente High School within the Capistrano Unified School District, following her role as an assistant principal focusing on new teachers, discipline, counseling and activities at Rancho Bernardo High School within the Poway Unified School District.
Most of Ms. Rappa’s career has been in public education. However, she also worked at a probation school and served as an administrator in male detention camps in San Dimas and La Verne, California. Ms. Rappa excelled during this time, demonstrating adaptability and resilience while working with diverse student populations in these alternative education settings.
Ms. Rappa’s foundational years were spent as a teacher, then as a reading coordinator, and basketball and tennis coach. This tenure spanned over 10 years. Among her most notable achievements during this time was her work as a reading coordinator, assisting high school students who had never learned to read. Ms. Rappa took pride in teaching phonics and decoding skills, an uncommon practice at the high school level. She found it profoundly rewarding to witness students gain literacy for the first time. Additionally, two of Ms. Rappa’s former students advanced to compete in the National Football League with the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders.
Ms. Rappa’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, followed by a Master of Science from the University of La Verne. She also holds certification in life space crisis intervention, which has further enhanced her ability to support students facing significant challenges.
Active in her professional community, Ms. Rappa is a member of several professional organizations, including the National Institute for School Leadership through the National Center on Education and the Economy, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Association of California School Administrators. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms. Rappa is civically engaged as a supporter and volunteer with the American Legion Hall for Veterans. She also serves as a volunteer coach for boys’ Little League Baseball and soccer leagues in Glendora and as an administrator with Kiwanis International. Ms. Rappa’s contributions have been recognized through nominations, including Administrator of the Year in Pomona.
Throughout her career, Ms. Rappa has been recognized for transforming school culture by inspiring both students and staff to encourage one another and hold high expectations. She has emphasized the importance of building self-confidence by believing in each student’s potential and has encouraged faculty members, from custodial staff to classroom teachers, to reflect on their impact on students’ lives.
Ms. Rappa attributes her professional growth to lessons learned from setbacks throughout her career, including those encountered during economic downturns, and credits her commitment to lifelong learning as a driving force behind her success. Looking ahead, she hopes to advance within district administration, serving either as director or assistant-level administrator, so she can further contribute at the district level. Ms. Rappa’s enduring dedication to fostering positive educational environments continues to shape the lives of countless students while setting a standard for excellence among educational leaders across California.
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