Perez-Cook new principal at Brook Hill

Guadalupe Perez-Cook, a longtime Sonoma County teacher and administrator, has been named principal at Brook Hill Elementary School in Santa Rosa.

Perez-Cook replaces Karen Arter who resigned this summer after 10 years at the helm of the Vallejo Street campus.

Perez-Cook has taught every elementary grade except kindergarten and since 1992 has been with the Roseland School District, where she was an assistant principal at Sheppard Accelerated School. She also has been summer school principal with the district.

"She had a lot of good experience," according to Bob Thompson, assistant superintendent of human resources for Santa Rosa City Schools. "It was a large field, and a good field" of applicants.

More than 35 people applied for the job, he said. The board is expected to confirm the hire Aug. 13.

Once on a state watch list because of low test scores, Brook Hill posted the biggest leap of any district school on the state's Academic Performance Index between 2005-07.

"Obviously, the staff here is doing something right," Perez-Cook said.

Perez-Cook earned a bachelor's degree from Chico State and a master's degree in educational leadership from Sonoma State University, according to Thompson.

District officials continue to interview candidates for the principal post at Doyle Park Elementary School on Sonoma Avenue. Fran Link left the post this summer after two years.

Santa Rosa City students begin school Aug. 13.

You can reach Staff Writer Kerry Benefield at 526-8671 or kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.

com.