Desert Sands Leaders Honored with Statewide ACSA Awards!

DSUSD is proud to announce two of our outstanding principals have been named 2025 statewide award winners by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).

Derrick Lawson, Principal of Indio High School, has been selected as the Secondary Principal of the Year.

Dr. Jose Alonso Ramirez, Principal of Horizon and Summit High Schools, has been honored as the Continuation/Educational Options Administrator of the Year.

Both leaders represent ACSA Region 19 and were personally notified by the ACSA Awards Committee.

We also proudly recognize our ACSA Region 19 honorees:

 – Dr. David Gustafson, Central Office Administrator
 – Tamara Petty, Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence Nominee
 – Vivica Ramirez, Shadow Hills High School – Region XIX Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to all of our incredible leaders. Your work continues to inspire and uplift the Desert Sands community.