Long-time Calipatria educator to take reins at Southwest

Joe Derma III will be ending nearly three decades of service as a teacher and administrator in the Calipatria Unified School District to accept the job as principal for Southwest High School, the Central Union High School District announced Friday.

Derma has served as principal of Calipatria High School since 2013. He also teaches as a Career Technical Education course in the Public Safety Pathway.

Derma also was principal of Bill E. Young Jr. Middle School from July 2000 to June 2013. Prior to that, he worked in the district as a teacher and coach from 1994 to 2000.

He is also known for his service in the California Army National Guard, where he holds the title of state command sergeant major and serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Army division commander.

He also served in the Army since 1990 including a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2017-18.

The CUHSD board of trustees is expected to approve Derma’s contract at its meeting on Tuesday.