Heritage High's Zierold, Smith Receive Top County Awards

From left: Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, superintendent of the Perris Union High School District; Audrey Smith, Classified Employee of the Year; Julie Zierold, Principal of the Year; Kenn Young, Riverside County superintendent of schools.

Heritage High School Principal Julie Zierold and Secretary II Audrey Smith were given special recognition this week by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Kenn Young.

Zierold was named the County's Principal of the Year. She shares that honor with Ridgemoor Elementary School Principal Kristina Lyman, giving Menifee the only two administrators in the county recognized as Principals of the Year.

Zierold has served as principal at Heritage High for six years. She began her career in the district as assistant principal at Perris High School.

Zierold said she attended the announcement thinking she was paying tribute only to Smith. She was surprised to hear she was also being honored.

"I arranged to have staff and students meet in the Career Center to be there to recognize Audrey Smith ... I had no idea that I had been selected as well," Zierold said. "I would say we had about 50 staff and students in the Career Center to see the presentation for Audrey and I.

"It was awesome to be able to share the day with Audrey. She is an amazing woman that has a tremendous heart for kids and has done this for over 30 years in our district. She inspires me to always do more for our kids. I love being at Heritage because of people like her that go above and beyond the job and do it for no other reason than to provide opportunity and give our students what they would not have otherwise."

Zierold said she believes her passion for the students and their education were factors in her selection.

"It's a recognition of all the hard work and dedication of the entire Heritage High School staff," she said. "The success we have had at Heritage is because we have a staff that is passionate about students. Getting the award allows us to celebrate students, staff, and the community for the LEGACY they have created in eight short years. It is a great school, and each year it gets better and better!"

Smith was honored as the county's Classified Employee of the Year.

"Anyone who has ever worked at Perris High School or Heritage High School knows that no one in our District cares more about our students than Audrey Smith," PUHSD superintendent Jonathan Greenberg wrote in an email announcing the honors. "To say she is amazing is an understatement!"

Zierold and Smith will be recognized at a special luncheon with other county honorees in May.