MUSD WELCOMES THREE NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS TO MOORPARK HIGH SCHOOL

(Moorpark, California) July 20, 2023—Moorpark Unified School District is proud to announce the appointment of three exceptional educators to its administrative team as assistant principals at Moorpark High School.

Zasha Endres, Michael Paris and Jason Umansky will join fellow Assistant Principal Tara Thomas and Principal Zaid Bakoo at Moorpark High starting Aug. 1.  

“With their impressive backgrounds and unwavering commitment to educational excellence, Ms. Endres, Mr. Paris and Mr. Umansky will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of our students and staff at MHS,” Principal Bakoo said. “We’re very excited to have them join our Musketeer family.” 

Ms. Endres comes to MUSD following 12 years at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. She previously taught in Colorado for four years.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Culture at California State University, Northridge and a teaching credential and master’s degree in education from Pepperdine University. She graduated from California Lutheran University in 2021 with an administrative services credential and her second master’s degree in educational leadership. 

“As I prepare for next year, I'm looking forward to getting to know the students, staff and parents of MHS,” Ms. Endres said. “I am excited to bring my love for education to our community and support my team in creating a welcoming and safe school environment in which each student can succeed.”

Born in Puerto Rico, Ms. Endres’ family came to Simi Valley when she was 15. Ms. Endres has family ties to Moorpark High School. Her husband, Eric, is a graduate of MHS and her mother-in-law retired from MUSD as a special education teacher.

Ms. Endres and her husband reside in Simi Valley and have two young daughters.

Mr. Paris joins MUSD after nine years at Ivy Bound Academy in Sherman Oaks, where he began as an eighth grade teacher and spent the last five years as principal of the 240-student charter school.  

“Through school, students learn the value of hard work, how to be positive members of society, and begin to determine their path forward,” Mr. Paris said. “It is one of the great joys of my life to be able to help guide students as they navigate the rough seas of academia and captain their own ships to accomplishment.”

He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in English and his single-subject teaching credential from CSUN in 2012. He was one of two students in his graduating class who completed both programs in four years. 

Mr. Paris was an English teacher at Morningside High School in Inglewood following graduation. He has a master’s degree in administrative education from CSUN and an administrative services credential from UC Berkeley.

Born and raised in Oak Park, Mr. Paris lives in Agoura Hills with his wife, Samantha, and their two young daughters.

For the past five years, Mr. Umansky has been a social science teacher at Hoover High School in Glendale Unified School District. He also coached Hoover High’s boys’ soccer team.

“Moorpark High School has an incredible reputation and history,” Mr. Umansky said. “I wanted the opportunity to become a part of a successful team and help maintain the tradition of excellence in which the community has worked so hard to establish. I felt that my core educational values aligned with the district's mission in ‘connecting with every student, every day,’ and that I would be a good fit for the Moorpark community.” 

Mr. Umansky grew up in Claremont and attended the University of La Verne, where he played soccer for the Leopards. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in education and instructional technology, as well as a single-subject teaching credential. He recently received his administrative services credential from California Lutheran University. 

He lives in Porter Ranch with his family.