Menlo Park City School District Superintendent Erik Burmeister's executive assistant left the district last week to take a position in the East Bay working for a former top leader in the district.

Lanita Villasenor announced last month that she accepted a position in the Pleasanton Unified School District to serve as the administrative assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Ahmad Sheikholeslami, the Menlo Park district's former chief business and operations officer.

Villasenor, who joined the district in 2013, left her Menlo Park position on Dec. 6.

"Although I am looking forward to making an impact and adding my value to PUSD (Pleasanton Unified School District), I am sad about leaving my friends, colleagues and the community partners I've worked with in Menlo Park," she said in an email. "I am grateful to have had the privilege of working with you, collaborating with you and supporting you. It has been an honor to serve the Menlo Park City School District community for the last 7 years."

Sheikholeslami left the district at the end of October for the Pleasanton District. Both Villasenor and Sheikholeslami noted that the Pleasanton district is closer to their homes. 

The district will announce Christina Carrier as Villasenor's replacement at its Dec. 12 school board meeting, according to the meeting agenda.

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