Welcome Dan Andrus as Principal of North Monterey County High School

We are thrilled to officially welcome Dan Andrus as the new Principal of North Monterey County High School!

Andrus began the 2024-2025 school year serving as Assistant Principal and, over the past few months, has led as Interim Principal with dedication, care, and a strong commitment to student success. Now, as he steps into the role of Principal, we are excited to support his leadership and vision for Condor Country.

He brings with him a wealth of experience and a student-centered philosophy that aligns perfectly with the values of North Monterey County High School. He holds a Bachelor's degree from BYU in English Secondary Education and Spanish Teaching, and a Master's degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Educational Leadership. He spent 10 years teaching English and Spanish in Paso Robles and has been a high school administrator for 20 years—this is his 15th year serving as a principal.

Throughout his career, Dan has worked primarily in small-town high schools ranging in size from 300 to 2,400 students. He has built strong school programs in Career Technical Education, Visual and Performing Arts, and Technology. A passionate advocate for equity and opportunity, he emphasizes opening access to Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and other rigorous academic offerings, while also ensuring support and intervention for struggling students.

“I believe that every day in a high school, there are students doing noteworthy, inspiring things, backed up by adults who put in time and energy to motivate and support them,” he shared. “My hope is that more and more of our students have those great moments as they develop talents, increase their knowledge, and realize their dreams.”

A proud father and grandfather, Andrus has five children and five grandchildren. In a special highlight of his career, he had the opportunity to serve as the high school principal for each of his own children.

Please join us in congratulating Dan Andrus on his new role as Principal. We are confident that his leadership will help North Monterey County High School continue to grow and thrive.

Welcome Brenda Ramirez, New Assistant Superintendent

of Business Services

The North Monterey County Unified School District is proud to welcome Brenda Ramirez as our new Assistant Superintendent of Business Services.

A dedicated leader with deep ties to our community, Ramirez brings not only a wealth of professional experience, but also a personal commitment to the success of our students and schools.

Brenda is no stranger to NMCUSD. As a proud alumna and current parent, her connection to the district is both heartfelt and lifelong. Now, she returns in a leadership role, ready to give back to the community that helped shape her and that continues to shape her children.

With a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and a master’s degree from Boston College, Brenda has built a strong foundation in business administration.

She brings nearly 13 years of experience in school finance and operations, most recently serving at the Monterey County Office of Education. In her previous role, she led efforts to grow and support internal business teams while collaborating across multiple departments.

Ramirez's approach to school finance goes far beyond the numbers. She views her work as an opportunity to be a responsible steward of public resources, always keeping students, equity, and long-term impact at the heart of every decision.

“As both a product and parent of this district, I am fully invested in its continued success,” Brenda shares. “I look forward to supporting our students, families, and staff with care and integrity. I know this community well, and I understand the transformative power of education.”

Please join us in welcoming Brenda Ramirez to the NMCUSD team. We are excited for the leadership, insight, and passion she brings to this role—and to our entire district community.