Murrieta Mesa's 'Mama Ram' Named Riverside County Principal of the Year

Murrieta Mesa High School Principal Mary Walters was named the 2013 Riverside County Principal of the Year in a surprise assembly held Thursday morning in her honor.

Instead of addressing the senior class in a meeting about their upcoming graduation—as she was told she would be doing—Walters was greeted by an auditorium of cheering students, district and school staff and county education officials.

Walters was selected from 23 principals who applied for the title. Having been selected by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District as its 2012 Principal of the Year, she was qualified to enter an application.

"You don't become principal of the year unless you are an outstanding, amazing principal in the county because there is lots of competition," said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Kenneth M. Young, who was on hand to congratulate a teary-eyed Walters.

To Walters' Class of 2013, Young said: "You know this far better than I do that you have an amazing principal."

Walters was taken completely by surprise.

“I’m totally flabbergasted by this award. I am just so honored to represent Murrieta Mesa and Murrieta Valley Unified School District," Walters said.

Seniors Casey Joe and Shane Staton presented Walters with flowers and congratulated her. 

“We are so blessed to have a principal who cares about her students,” Joe said. “I don’t know what we would do without our Mama Ram.”  

Patrick Kelley, superintendent of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, spoke of Walters' devotion to her job and her students.

"She talks about pursuing your passion and leaving a legacy so much that she lives it," Kelley said. "I can't tell you how many times I have spoken to her at 10, 11 at night, at midnight, and she's working. She agonizes over individual students because she cares about all of you."

Walters has been an educator for 26 years. She came to Murrieta Valley Unified 22 years ago as a teacher and she has been an administrator since 1996.

Walters thanked her husband, who was in on the surprise assembly, as well as her staff.

"Without you guys I wouldn't be able to do what I do on a daily basis," Walters said.

Walters will officially be honored at the Celebrating Educators luncheon on May 7 in Palm Springs along with all the county’s outstanding educators.

—Karen Parris from the Murrieta Valley Unified School District contributed to this article.