Heritage principal Tejeda will move to new Liberty High

Heritage High School principal Erika Tejeda will move to the new Liberty High School in Menifee as principal, the Perris Union High School District announced today.

Tejeda, who has served as principal at Heritage since October 2018, will assume her new duties July 1 to prepare for the August 2021 opening of the school. Construction continues on the campus on Leon Road north of Scott Road. Hiring of staff and development of curriculum and programs will take place over the next year.

“Erika is a talented principal and brings with her a wealth of institutional knowledge and varied experience,” PUHSD superintendent Grant Bennett said after the board approved Tejeda’s new appointment. “We have the utmost confidence in Erika to lead Liberty High School and create a campus that will be the envy in the region.”

A Menifee resident with children attending local schools, Tejeda came up through the ranks, starting as a playground supervisor and crossing guard. She worked her way up to a Spanish teacher’s position, then assistant principal before becoming Heritage High’s principal.

“Through her work with PUHSD and at Heritage, Erika has formed relationships with community organizations, created partnerships with the City of Menifee, established positive staff relationships, instilled open communication with all stakeholders, and fostered a shared responsibility and vision,” Bennett said. “We know that we will see this and more from Erika as she builds Liberty into a welcoming home for our students, parents, staff, and community.

“At Liberty High School, Erika will be guiding a campus that will have unique Smaller Learning Communities, decentralized administration, teacher professional center, student collaboration spaces, and flexible learning environments. We are thankful to have Erika Tejeda in the PUHSD family and are excited that she will be leading Liberty High School as we embark on this journey.”

Interviews for a new principal at Heritage High will begin in a couple weeks, said Candace Reines, deputy superintendent of PUHSD.