Tamara Honegan, principal at Weigand Avenue Elementary School

What inspired you to become an educator and, now, a school principal?

Growing up, my lifelong dream was to become a teacher. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children who looked like me. After years of teaching, I was encouraged by other educators to go into leadership. I worked my way up, holding various out-of-classroom positions before landing an administrative position as an assistant principal, which led to an interim principal position for a semester.

What excites you most about leading your school in your community?

I truly enjoy serving as principal at Weigand because the school is a tight-knit community with generations of Weigand alumni.  The school has shown tremendous growth academically and in our cultural climate.

How has the Partnership supported your professional development?

Although we showed improvement each year in all areas, our greatest growth began when we became a school in the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.    

How do you connect with students and ensure their voices are heard in shaping the school’s future?

Although my role as a principal relieves me of my role as a teacher, I am able to connect with students because I am present in classrooms regularly, teaching and co-teaching lessons.  I also serve as a nurse, cafeteria worker, and custodian.  I believe I am the longest-serving administrator that Weigand has ever had.

Looking ahead a few years, what do you hope your school community will say about your leadership and impact?

It is my hope that my presence here will have a lasting impact on the school’s reputation as a high-performing school with high expectations for future administrators.

When did you first become principal of your current school?

I became principal in the 2017-2018 school year.

What’s something students or staff might be surprised to learn about you?

Many people do not know this, but in 2010, I returned to LAUSD from a leave of absence, and I was assigned to Weigand Avenue Elementary as the Title III Coach. I worked at Weigand for six months, not knowing that one day I would lead the school.

Where did you go to college or grad school?

I attended the University of Illinois at Chicago before moving to California, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Los Angeles. Years later, I earned my Master of Arts in Educational Administration at California State University, Dominguez Hills.