Fillmore Unified Announces New Principals for 2025-2026 School Year
![]() Fillmore Unified School District has selected Dina Ticas as Principal for San Cayetano Elementary and Kayleigh Kelp selected Principal, Rio Vista Elementary for the 2025-2026 upcoming school year. Full bios in article. By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, July 4th, 2025
Fillmore Unified has announced new principals for multiple schools throughout the district. See full bios below: Dina Ticas Selected Principal, San Cayetano Elementary School Hello, my name is Dina Ticas. I am the only daughter of an immigrant mother, living out my quintessential American Dream. I began my career in education 25 years ago as a fourth-grade teacher, just before the frenzy of Y2K, but my love for learning and education began in Kindergarten. My mother’s rallying phrase, “You can lose everything, but you can’t lose your education” still rings in my mind. My husband of 28 years, Sam, and I have since added a few more phrases that we’ve passed on to our adult children: Katie, Mason, and Lazaro. Among them: “Live what you believe.” I believe deeply that family is everything and serving families in the public education setting is one of the best ways to invest my time and energy. My career has spanned from teaching grades K-6th, Math, and even Spanish. Most recently, I have served as an Assistant Principal at a school site of more than 800 students and 70 staff. I have a passion for the integration of content areas and for that reason I pursued a Masters of Education in S.T.E.A.M. Education after receiving my Bachelor’s of Education in Liberal Studies. The direct impact that teachers and administrators had on my life inspires me to collaborate, problem solve and support the vital work happening within classrooms. The moments in education that shifted the trajectory of my life as a student, educator, and administrator allowed me to experience the thriving in life that we all want for our students, our community, and ourselves as professionals. I am eager to work alongside the San Cayetano team and the Fillmore Unified School District. *** Degrees and Certifications: I am honored and excited to join the Fillmore Unified School District as the new Principal of Rio Vista Elementary School. Go Roadrunners! I bring with me over a decade of experience in education. My journey began as an elementary teacher, working across a range of grade levels and student needs, which helped shape my understanding of effective instruction and student development. I then spent six years as a teacher and middle school Assistant Principal in Ventura County, followed by two years as an Elementary Assistant Principal in the Santa Cruz area. I’m thrilled to return to this area and serve the incredible students, families, and staff of Fillmore. My leadership is grounded in five core values: integrity, relationships, efficiency, support, and empowerment. These principles guide my everyday work and help cultivate an environment where students and staff feel safe, respected, and valued. I’m especially passionate about restorative justice practices and promoting equity in education for students with special needs. I believe that strong partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community are essential to student success. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, traveling, creating art, and watching movies with my husband and our energetic puppy, Reggie. I look forward to building strong relationships with our students, families, and staff. I’m truly proud to be part of the Fillmore Unified family and can’t wait for the great work we’ll do together. |