Novato High Main Directory Numbers

Michelle Cortez serves as both MSA Director and Novato High School Co-Principal overseeing arts, wellness, and equity.  At Novato High, she oversees students and faculty in the MSA program; the English Language Development classes and teachers; and the Wellness Campus team and efforts.  In addition, she coordinates ELPAC testing coordination, MTSS supports, professional development and Career Technical Education funding including MSA and MCP pathways.

Cortez earned her BA in English and Theatre Arts from Sonoma State University and her MA in Organizational Leadership from Claremont Lincoln University. She has worked in education and arts management throughout her career with a focus on developing projects and initiatives that bring educators, artists, and community members together to explore relevant social issues and engage young students and artists.

She taught drama, English, AVID, and College Readiness first at O’Farrell Community School and later at Aspire California College Preparatory Academy where she also worked on leadership teams and supported student advocacy groups. In 2011, she joined the Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy in Oakland, CA where she served as Principal for six years and built out their acclaimed school-wide literacy and Career Technical Education programs. During her time in Oakland, she also worked with the National Equity Project in their year-long fellowship program training educators on facilitation of equity initiatives. She currently serves on the board of Novato Community Television, NCTV.

Michelle is committed to asset based educational systems that help students develop their identity, purpose, and passion.  She loves the way MSA creates “a wide range of normal” at Novato High School and feels grateful for the way students, staff, and families collaborate to create an artistic haven in the region. She also appreciates the strong Novato community and works hard to collaborate within NUSD to develop more inclusive and student-centered supports.  In her free time, Michelle loves traveling and hiking with her family, doing yoga, and experiencing art in the community.

Allie Greene is currently serving as the Co-Principal of Novato High School. She comes to us with a vast array of experiences in education. She began teaching at the University of California at Irving in Classics, where she was working on a PhD, and then shifted to teaching high school English. She taught at San Marin for a number of years, where she also served as an Instructional Coach and Department Chair.

Allie was an intercollegiate athlete and coached high school rowing for many years after her athletic career ended. For the last 8 years she has been an Assistant Principal and Vice Principal in Sonoma County. In 2020, she became the Principal of Alternative Education in West Sonoma County, but wanted to come back to serve her home community and started at Novato High School in 2022.

Allie lives in Novato with her partner and three children, all of whom attend Novato schools. She is a proud member of the Hornet community and is dedicated to providing access and opportunity to all of our Novato youth.

Allie oversees Student Leadership, Math, Science and our Multi Tiered Systems of Support.