The new assistant principal of pupil services, Janée Montelongo, started her career as an educator on an interesting note. During her very first year of teaching, she appeared on the television game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. “Teachers and students that I didn’t know would point at me as I walked around campus saying, ‘that’s the teacher who was on T.V,’” Montelongo said.

As her $10,000 question, Montelongo was asked what Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that the United States was an arsenal of during his fireside chat. She was stumped “I used up my lifelines early because they format the questions in such a way that when people are under this pressure they tend to second-guess their initial instincts,” Montelongo said.

Brian Ho Assistant principal Janee Montelongo visits math teacer Francisco Rosales' registry room during the ten day count.

After facing different kinds of pressure in a variety of situations – as an athlete, track and cross-country coach, teacher-leader and game show contestant – Montelongo should be more than prepared for the challenges of Lowell.

Before she became an administrator, Montelongo taught English and English Language Development at Franklin High School in the Stockton Unified School District. “I enjoyed every subject area that I had the opportunity to teach,” she said. “Each subject provides both unique opportunities for learning, as well as certain challenges.”

Montelongo particularly enjoyed teaching English in the faster-paced and more rigorous International Baccalaureate program, which is similar to the Advanced Placement program at Lowell.

While Montelongo said she sees merit in both programs, she believes that AP provides more flexibility. “IB students must test in math, science, English, a world language and social studies to earn the IB diploma,” Montelongo said. “AP, on the other hand, allows you to test in subject areas that match their individual strengths.”

Montelongo left Franklin High School in 2005 to teach at the newly formed Cesar Chavez High School, where she helped develop the English Language Development program, the English Learner Advisory Committee and the cross country program. She also worked on the first Western Association of Schools and Colleges self-study at the new high school. “I am proud to have helped to open Chavez as a teacher-leader,” Montelongo said. “It was an incredible opportunity to have a hand in helping to develop the culture of the school.”

Montelongo’s experiences at Lowell so far have been positive. "Not only are the students held to high expectations, but the staff and faculty are as well,” she said. “I have really enjoyed working with such responsible and organized student leaders."

Junior Kenneth Kozakura was pleased with his first interaction with Montelongo. "She seemed very charismatic, actually, and I think she will lead Lowell very well this year," he said.

Junior class president Emily Mock, who has worked with Montelongo, also had a positive impression of the new assistant principal. “She carries herself extremely well,” Mock said. “She is a very open administrator, and I think she connects with students and parents very well."

Montelongo enjoys an array of activities outside of school, including running, water skiing and snow skiing, traveling and reading.

Montelongo’s family got her involved in sports. “I started water and snow skiing when I was pretty young, about four or five years old,” she said. “It was a family tradition, but I still love to do it.”

Though she hasn’t skied for at least two years, she remembers the sport fondly. “I don’t like being cold, but I enjoy the speed,” she said. “I love how it’s a display of woman versus nature.”