ROYAL CITY - Wahluke School District veteran Linda Achondo has been hired as the Red Rock Elementary School vice principal to replace Rich Gregoire.

Gregoire, who doubled as a volunteer publicist for the district, has taken a seventh grade classroom position in Moses Lake, where he resides.

Achondo comes to Royal from a variety of teaching and leadership positions in the Wahluke School District. Most recently, Achondo was a summer school principal and an instructional coach at the elementary level.

Achondo is more than familiar with the Royal community. She attended the old Red Rock School as a child before moving to Mattawa and fondly remembers a sense of community.

"The hiring committee noted her strong commitment to student learning and her expertise in many of the programs already in place at Red Rock Elementary," Royal School District business manager David Andra said.

Achondo holds a master's degree from Grand Canyon University, a master's degree from Washington State University, and a bachelors degree from Whitworth University.