Hollywood Says Goodbye to Greatness

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Abril Chuvac in News

Chelyah Miller
Chronicle Reporter

Jeanine DiTomasso, program director for the L.A.C.E.R Afterschool Program, will no longer be here. Her last day was Feb. 14. The former artistic director, Will Seymour, is now the executive director and she will be assuming his role as artistic director. Even though she is happy to do this, she is sad to leave all the students and faculty.

“Out of all of the schools I’ve worked with, I’ve been doing after-school classes for 20 years, and this is my favorite. My favorite students go here and have always gone here,” she said. “It has been my joy and privilege to help the students reach their academic, personal and artistic goals.”

Many students have known her since they were in middle school. She worked at LeConte Middle School six years ago and many of the juniors and seniors remember her and will continue to remember her even after they have gone.

She has run the L.A.C.E.R. staff for five years and said she will be sad to leave them.

“This is the best staff ever. Over the past five years, I have hand picked every single person here and they are perfect at their job. Everybody here is the perfect example of a L.A.C.E.R. instructor, of a mentor, and of somebody who is so dedicated to young people and helping you guys out,” she said. “I can’t even call this a job, I love all of the people on my staff and I love all of you guys here at Hollywood.”

The L.A.C.E.R. staff has helped put on productions, raise funds, and is responsible for the cheerleading team, the marching band, dance guard, after-school tutoring and Hollywood Live. Although Jeanine will be leaving, these things will not change. They will continue to tutor and help students graduate as they have for the past five years.

Jeanine may be leaving Hollywood but she will forever be a Sheik.

“I will miss being on campus every day, but no matter where I go, I know I will always be part of the Sheik nation,” she said.

Ramiro Segovia will be taking over Jeanine’s role as program director, and will continue to lead the L.A.C.E.R. staff. He has been a program director for years at schools such as Bancroft Middle School and Fairfax High School. Segovia will run the program with the same dedication and care that Jeanine has for the past five years.