Personnel Commission

Leonard Narumi retired from the Montebello Unified School District in Los Angeles County where he served as the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for 10 years. Prior to his tenure as the district’s VAPA Coordinator, Narumi served as Director of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Music Department at George Miller Schurr High School, his alma mater, for 24 years. Under his guidance, Schurr’s band, orchestra, and auxiliary programs grew to record numbers, appeared in the prestigious Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, and garnered many artistic and competitive accolades throughout Southern California, Florida, and Hawaii.

A Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year in 2002, Narumi has been recognized by various municipalities, civic leaders, groups, and professional organizations throughout his career –testaments to his long-standing commitments to teaching and community service. He is also a recipient of the Los Angeles County Music Educators Association Robert Runge Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Education; was recognized as “Person of the Year” by the Association for the Advancement of Mexican American Students (AAMAS); and is a past recipient of the Honorary Service, Continuing Service, and Golden Oak Service Awards from the Montebello Council Parent Teacher Association. He was also recognized with the Elbert K. Fretwell Education Award presented by the Boy Scouts of America Greater Los Angeles Area Council.

A “career-long” member of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), Narumi has served the SCSBOA in many capacities including Vice-President of High School Honor Groups and First Vice-President. He is a two-time recipient of the SCSBOA’s “Gold Star Educator Award” and was also awarded the association’s highest recognition of “Honorary Life Member” in 2016. A seasoned guest conductor of many years, Mr. Narumi currently volunteers as an associate conductor for the North Torrance Youth Musicians Ensembles (nTyme) Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, has been a regular guest conductor for the Wildwood Institute of Music and Art since 2014, and currently serves as a university mentor for student teachers in music at California State University Long Beach.

 

Email: [email protected]

 

 

Mrs. Yvette Fimbres was recommended by the California School Employee Association
Montebello, Chapter 505 and was first appointed by California State Superintendent of
Public Instruction (CSSPI) Tom Torlakson in April 2018 and reappointed by CSSPI Tony
Thurmond in 2020 and 2024 to serve on the Montebello Unified School District
Personnel (MUSD)Commission. Mrs. Fimbres is an honors graduate of MUSD. She
possesses an Associate Degree from East Los Angeles College. Her Bachelor Degree
and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership are from California State University,
Los Angeles. Mrs. Fimbres received her teaching credential from UCLA. Commissioner
Fimbres has over 30 years of professional experience in the education field employed
with the Los Angeles Unified School District as a classified employee in the clerical
ranks, an alternative education and career technical education teacher, project
manager, site director, and an assistant principal. Mrs. Fimbres is also dedicated and
committed to community involvement and has served as a Commissioner for the City of
Montebello’s Investment Committee and Civil Service Commission. She has also
volunteered as a Los Angeles County Reserve Deputy Probation Officer and was a
liaison for the Montebello Neighborhood Watch program in partnership with the
Montebello Police Department. She is currently a volunteer with the Hearts of
Montebello, Secretary and Girls State Chairperson for the American Legion Auxiliary
Unit 272, a member of the National Latino Peace Officers Association, ELA Chapter and
the Montebello-Ashiya Sister City Association. Commissioner Fimbres knows the
importance and public expectation that our governmental process be conducted in a
fair, efficient, and open manner. She is committed to ensuring that MUSD’s merit system
principles will emphasize these values and provide a personnel selection process that is
open to all and free from political interference.