MENIFEE – The applause and cheers from students and staff, confirmed the wisdom of choosing Menifee’s Táawila Elementary School Principal Daphne Donoho as the Riverside County Principal of the Year for 2022-23.
MUSD Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Root, and the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, made the surprise announcement, following a rigorous selection process amongst candidates from numerous schools throughout the County.
Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Root shared “The academic thriving and positive culture at Táawila Elementary are due, in large part, to Mrs. Donoho’s leadership. She strikes a remarkable balance in being both a relational and instructional leader. We are fortunate to have her as a part of our leadership team at MUSD.”
Ms. Donoho is the inaugural principal at the school that opened in 2018.
“Principal Donoho has done a tremendous job leading the students and staff at Táawila Elementary,” said Board President Morgan Singleton. “This recognition is very well deserved.”
The school name, (pronounced: TAH-we-la) was taken from the language of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, who have inhabited the Menifee Valley and adjacent areas of Riverside County for thousands of years. In fact, the rocky hill that towers above the site of the school is considered sacred land by local Native Americans.
The school colors are sage green and burnt orange, and the school logo contains an arrow and feather.
The school explains, the arrow was very important to the Native Indians. The bow and arrow enabled the Indians to hunt the animals which would provide their food, clothing, weapons and tools. As a symbol, the arrow represents moving toward your goals, and not working backwards. It has the idea of movement, power, and of heading in a direction with purpose.
The feather symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom. Native Indian warriors were awarded a feather when they were particularly brave in battle. To be given a feather means being gifted or rewarded by a high official and as a reminder of their victory, they should take utmost care and always wear it for the whole tribe to see.
