Dr. Angela Dillman has made an impact as a principal, a woman, and an activist at Arcadia High School (AHS), and she plans to continue to do so in her new position as Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Arcadia Unified School District.

“Rewarding, exhilarating, and exhausting”—these were the three words Dr. Dillman said that encapsulated her journey as principal at AHS. According to her, stepping into the role was a fulfilling challenge, filled with moments of triumph, excitement, and the relentless demands of leadership.
Dr. Dillman’s proudest achievement as principal is celebrating the achievements of students, who contribute to the community and the world, often without expecting recognition.
She also shared how proud she is of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee and the Wellness Center. She’s also grateful to have the ability to support those in need of mental health support so that all students can have a good experience at AHS. She hopes these programs can be her lasting legacy as principal.

Dr. Dillman mentioned how difficult it was to go through COVID-19 and see the AHS campus completely empty. After being shut down for COVID, the school felt “eerily quiet,” and when school finally reopened, not many people came back.

After months of uncertainty, when in-person school fully resumed, “it was like the heartbeat of our school was back. I was flooded with so much relief. That sound made me feel like we were going to be okay,” Dr. Dillman said.

Being principal comes with a lot of challenges, good and bad, but by far, the hardest one for Dr. Dillman was when AHS student senior Alessandro Realzola passed away in late 2023.

“It was such a tragic loss for Alessandro’s family and our school. My heart broke for his loved ones and friends. I was so grateful to have such extraordinarily strong and caring people here at school to help us all get through such a devastating time,” said Dr. Dillman.

Dr. Dillman’s experiences shed light on the difficulties of leading a school, but also show how support from the community, school, staff, and students contributes to a positive AHS experience.

In her new position, Dr. Dillman will miss “not coming here everyday. Like I will start crying in a heartbeat if I think about it too much…I was a teacher, I was Activities Director, Assistant Principal, Principal, but I go to a school every day with the energy of thousands of students and hundreds of teachers,” she said.

She will miss being there for the students as well as her staff, especially her secretary, Ms. Shari Rudolph. Through thick and thin, Ms. Rudolph has been there for Dr. Dillman, and though she won’t be going to the district with Dr. Dillman, they will always remain the “dynamic duo,” that they always have been.

“I think that the hardest part was just knowing that I’m going to be more distant from the energy of the high school and the energy of the students. But I do know that I am going to work really hard to support all of the programs here,” she said.

To cope with the transition, she reassures herself that everything will be just fine—perhaps even better—after her departure. Dr. Dillman is still going to be involved with AHS and its communities in many ways, and she believes that AHS is in good hands with the wonderful staff and teachers to support it. This “bittersweet” moment, as Dr. Dillman describes it, was heartbreaking for her as she has been a significant part of the community for six consecutive years.

Although Dr. Dillman is looking forward to being the future Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, she still has many responsibilities in her current role. In her remaining time at AHS, Dr. Dillman plans to finish supporting ongoing programs and ensuring a smooth transition for her successor.

Dr. Dillman shared a heartfelt message with her staff, students, and the entire community. With deep emotion, she expressed her appreciation for the unwavering support and dedication she has witnessed throughout her time at AHS.

“I love each and every one of you. And, every year at graduation I say this cheesy line, that I think that I have more hope in the future of our world because I know Arcadia grads are going out into it,” said Dr. Dillman. “And it’s true. It’s how I feel about you: I really believe in your compassion, your hard work, your imagination, your intelligence, so I would just want everyone to know how much I care about you and how much I believe in you.”