Administration

 

Administrative Office

At Creekside our Teachers and Staff are committed to providing a safe, stable and nurturing academic environment where every student has the opportunity to persevere & reach their potential. We will provide opportunities for ongoing growth both academically & socially, for our students & ourselves.

 

Dear Creekside Middle School Students, Families, and Community,

It is with great excitement and gratitude that I introduce myself as the new principal of Creekside Middle School. I am honored to join this school community and look forward to partnering with our incredible students, families, staff, and community as we begin an exciting new chapter together.

This year marks my 19th year in education and my 9th year serving as a school principal. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with students at a variety of grade levels and in diverse educational settings. These experiences have reinforced my belief that every student has unique strengths and unlimited potential when provided with the right support, encouragement, and opportunities to succeed.

As an educator, I firmly believe that relationships come first. When students know they are seen, valued, and cared for, they are empowered to learn, grow, and achieve at their highest potential. Building strong relationships with students, families, and staff will always be at the heart of the work we do at Creekside.

Every child who walks through our doors deserves to feel safe, welcomed, challenged, and supported. My commitment is to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, experiences, abilities, or individual needs, has access to a high-quality education and the opportunities they need to succeed. We will celebrate the unique strengths each student brings while working together to help them grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Middle school is an exciting time filled with tremendous growth and discovery. Together, we will create a school culture where kindness, respect, responsibility, and perseverance are lived out each day. I believe that when schools and families work as true partners, there is no limit to what our students can accomplish.

As your principal, my door will always be open. I value communication, collaboration, and the voices of our students and families. I look forward to getting to know each of you, celebrating successes together, and working side by side to ensure Creekside Middle School continues to be a place where every student feels a sense of belonging and is inspired to reach their full potential.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Creekside family. I look forward to partnering with you as we make this a year of growth, achievement, and lasting memories for our students.

With appreciation,

Leslie Suffecool
Principal
Creekside Middle School

 

 

Welcome to Creekside! 

I look forward to welcoming your student(s) and supporting them as they continue their educational journey. At Creekside, we are committed to providing a safe and rigorous academic environment where every student has the opportunity to persevere and reach their fullest potential. 

While I am originally from Washington and my educational journey began there, California has been very much a part of that journey. I completed my B.A. in Social Sciences from Simpson University in Redding, California. In order to continue my professional development and add an English Credential, I also attended Azusa Pacific University, UCLA Extension, and U.C. Riverside. Most recently, I completed my M.A. in School Administration from C.S.U. Stanislaus. 

My professional educational journey has been an unexpected, but joyful one. While I began substituting in southern California, my first full time teaching job began overseas. I taught at an American International School in Bangkok, Thailand. While there, I had the opportunity and privilege to work with students from around the world for five years . In 2018, I decided to return back to the United States and was given the opportunity to teach at Creekside Middle School in Patterson, California. Since then, I have been blessed in working with the staff and students of Creekside and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve them as an assistant principal. 

As assistant principal, my goal is to partner with our staff and community to provide the best educational experience for our students. Additionally, as someone who has worked in several different countries, I believe it is vital to provide our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate an ever transforming environment in which our students will compete with the international world. 

I look forward to serving our staff and community, 

Aaron Howard

Assistant Principal

 

 

 

Hello Patterson! My name is Eduardo Avila-Chavez and I am genuinely excited to begin the 2026-2027 school year as an Assistant Principal. I am honored to serve this tight-knit community where I firmly believe great things will happen.

 

I am a Central Valley native with roots stemming from Mexico. I am proud to say that I am among the first in my family to be a first-generation college graduate. After completing my Bachelor's Degree in History and the teacher preparation program at Stan State, I began my career as a junior high history teacher. I taught both 7th and 8th grade history for 5 years, along with elective courses in Spanish. Beyond the classroom, I coached soccer and taught evening ESL (English as a Second Language) courses for adults. I also served as secretary for my school site council for several years. More recently, I completed the School Administration program at Stanislaus State, where I earned my Master’s Degree with Distinction.

 

My goals this year involve learning about the community of Patterson and giving Creekside Middle School a new perspective that drives education forward. I also want to act on the philosophy of “...doing what’s best for kids,” and one way to achieve that is by supporting our staff, educators and families.

 

I welcome you to embrace this school year with us! 

 

Eduardo Avila-Chavez

Assistant Principal

Creekside Middle School