The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada announced Wendy K. Sinnette as the 2025 La Cañadan of the Year. Sinnette was named in recognition of her dedicated leadership and lasting influence on the community.

Sinnette will be honored at the 66th Annual La Cañadan of the Year Awards Luncheon on Thursday, March 26 at 11:30 a.m. at that La Cañada Presbyterian Church at its Family Center, 626 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge. 

Established in 1951, the La Cañadan of the Year Award recognizes individuals or couples who exemplify selfless service and outstanding commitment to the community. Past honorees include Gil Smith, Dr. Michael Leininger, Vicki Schwartz, Greg Brown, Mayor Michael Davitt, Katherine Markgraf and most recently Pastor Chuck Osburn.

“I am extremely humbled and honored,” said Sinnette. “The community of LCUSD and LCF is one that I love and respect. I have been blessed to find so many friends, colleagues, leaders and mentors here. I am eternally grateful to the entire community.”

Kiwanis Club of La Canada President Alice Perez added, “Wendy’s work ethic and her selfless dedication remind us that leadership rooted in compassion and commitment strengthens an entire community. Wendy is a wonderful example of the Kiwanis’ guiding message: Be Bright and Shine in Service.”

“This event celebrates the remarkable positive impact Wendy has made on our community,” said La Cañadan of the Year Committee Chair Dennis Fors. “Please join us in thanking her.”

Sinnette has served as LCUSD superintendent since 2011 leading a district of five schools serving more than 4,000 students and over 600 employees. She joined LCUSD in 2002 and previously served as Palm Crest Elementary principal, La Cañada High School 7/8 principal, and assistant superintendent of Human Resources. Prior to LCUSD, she served as principal of Holy Angels Elementary School and taught high school social sciences and literature for more than a decade.

Under her leadership, LCUSD has strengthened student wellness initiatives, expanded social-emotional learning, enhanced campus safety and fostered a culture of belonging alongside academic excellence. She led the district’s rapid transition to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured offices remained open with essential staff on site, allowing LCUSD to be among the first districts to reopen for in-person instruction.

When asked what inspired her to dedicate her life to education and leadership, she immediately points to her mother. Sinnette recalled, “My mother was my role model and best friend. She passed away at a very early age – at 63, my age now. She spent 27 years teaching and being devoted to her students and school colleagues. She inspired within me a love for education and for the craft of teaching and learning. Through her example, I found incredible fulfillment being a teacher. I truly loved it. Later, I found the same fulfillment as an administrator.”

When reflecting on her 15 years as superintendent, Sinnette points not to a single accomplishment but to moments when dedication, teamwork and resilience strengthened the community.

“In my tenure at LCUSD, I developed a complete respect for and appreciation of the amazing educators, support staff and administrators I have worked alongside,” said Sinnette. “These colleagues and friends have brought to life for me the respect and appreciation my mom taught me about the teaching profession.

“There is so much that is meaningful for me over the past 15 years. I am proud that during COVID we never closed our offices and that essential staff and administrators reported to our district and school sites each day. This allowed our district to be one of the first to open for in-person instruction during the pandemic. Additionally, our teaching staff switched to online instruction within three days of the stay-at-home order being declared. I am also incredibly pleased that we will have effected the Sagebrush Territory Transfer on July 1, 2026 after nearly 60 years of struggle to do so.”

Sinnette’s aim to push boundaries as a high-performing school district is evident as LCUSD achieved a Niche ranking as the No. 1 school district in California in 2025 and earned No. 1 CAASPP results in English language arts and science and No. 2 for math in 2025. Under her helm she has prioritized student engagement, wellness and belongingness alongside these results. 

“LCUSD is an amazing community and we work together in partnership to ensure student success,” she said.

After announcing plans to retire, Sinnette delayed her retirement an additional year to guide the district through the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, even as she and her husband were displaced from their home. Her steady presence helped students, families and staff navigate an incredibly difficult time.

For her work and lasting impact, Sinnette was named the 2025–26 Los Angeles County Superintendent of the Year, honored as 2025 Educator of the Year by Congresswoman Judy Chu, received the Cal-Nev-Ha Children’s Fund Youth Service Award and the Spirit of Kiwanis Award, and has twice been recognized as Educator of the Year by the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce. Her honors also include the PTA’s Founders Day Service, Continuing Service and Golden Oak Awards.

Sinnette earned a Master of Science in educational administration with an emphasis in school business from Pepperdine University, along with a Bachelor of Arts in history from UCLA and a Master of Arts in history from California State University, Los Angeles.

A true local, Sinnette was born at Altadena Community Hospital. She lives with her husband Rick Mohney and their lively golden retriever Buster, and she treasures time with their extended family, which includes Rick’s son Nick Mohney; Wendy’s sister and brother-in-law Debby and Brian Baird; and their daughters Brianne Tate (husband Jamey) and Brittney Baird (partner Henry Griffith). Brianne and Jamey have three children: Lincoln, Sally and Kenzy. Wendy is also especially close to her aunt and uncle Nanny and Chester Carusone. 

The public is invited to attend with luncheon tickets set at $75 per person. Reservations may be made through March 17 on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing LCOY@lacanadakiwanis.org or visiting www.lacanadakiwanis.org/Events/LCOY. Tickets may be purchased online, by mail or at a Kiwanis club meeting. Make checks payable to the La Cañada Kiwanis Foundation and mail to Kiwanis Club of La Cañada, La Cañadan of the Year, P.O. Box 33, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91012. For additional information, contact LCOY Chair Dennis Fors at (818) 531-8776.