Photos courtesy of Jeff Serpa & the Norell family

Editor’s Note: This story will serve as a complete surprise to Mrs. Norell

Football:

By Brian Baiotto

It’s a rarity that a ‘week-one’ football game could cause an administrator to feel conflicted quite like this Thursday’s Glendora-Walnut showdown at WHS.

However, that’s exactly the scenario facing Jamie Norell.

Mrs. Norell and her husband Chip live in Glendora and they raised three intelligent and polite young men who played baseball and football for the Tartans.

Trey and Jack went through the system, and 16-year-old Nick is currently a junior kicker, who is following in Jack’s footsteps, and I mean that quite literally.

For his young career, Nick Norell is 22-of-23 on extra-point attempts.

He’s 4-of-6 on field goals, with a long of 42 yards.

After 17 years as an assistant principal, and in the spring of 2023, Jamie became the interim principal at Glendora.

Fast forward one year, and Mrs. Norell was officially named the first female principal in the school’s proud 68-year history.

She spent 29 years in the GUSD improving the lives of thousands of young men and women on a daily basis.

All of us connected to the school were hoping she’d be there until retirement, but fate had other plans.

An opportunity arose that Mrs. Norell just couldn’t say no to.

She was offered the job of principal at Walnut High School.

Mrs. Norell now occupies the same office that her beloved father Dr. Ken Gunn served in with such dignity between the years of 1985-2005.

Jamie earned her high school diploma at Walnut in 1988 with her proud father overseeing the ceremony.

The late-great Dr. Gunn opened Walnut High School and was their first football coach.

He insisted the school colors be Bruin blue and gold after his alma mater UCLA, and they share the same fight song.

He devoted 37 years to the school with the belief that kids come first, making sure the staff always looks out for each other whilst building the “The Walnut Way” culture.

He was also President of CIF-SS and he was instrumental in developing the State Championship football game.

The Mustangs football stadium is named after Dr. Gunn and it’s a source of pride for his entire family.

He and his daughter are the only two people in history to serve as principal at both GHS and WHS.

Mr. Gunn served our country and he’s a member of the UCLA Rugby’s Hall of Fame.

Leadership is nothing new to the Gunn-Norell family.

Dr. Gunn’s father, Keith Gunn, was the football coach and principal at Victor Valley High School, and the gymnasium is named in his honor.

Jamie’s father passed away in May of 2021, but not before spending the last year at Chip and Jamie’s Glendora home surrounded by unconditional love from his daughter, son-in-law and three beautiful grandsons.

Ask anybody that knew Mr. Gunn, and they’ll tell you how well Jamie proudly and skillfully carries on her father’s legacy.

That blueprint includes earning everything one desires, being accountable, leading a life with integrity and the supporting of a school’s staff and students.

Jamie Norell was a very popular principal to the students at Glendora and she became a friend and leader to the staff that walk 1600 Foothill Boulevard on a daily basis.

On March 1st of 2025, Mrs. Norell made the 260-mile roundtrip drive to Bakersfield to support a Tartan.

Jamie got to watch Samantha Sachs become the first state champion in Glendora High School history in front of 8,000 wrestling fans inside the Mechanics Bank Arena.

And if there was one school we could lose her to, it would be Walnut for all the reasons stated above.

She is also credited by many for providing them the guidance and space to spread their wings at GHS like current principal Rod Tilton, basketball coach Gordon Hamlow and second-year football coach Ryan Lawrence, who she hired in 2025.

As mentioned, Chip and Jamie have three wonderful sons.

Trey is 24, and he earned a Business Marketing Degree at the University of Oregon.

Jack, a senior, is working towards an Engineering Degree at Carnegie Mellon, where he also kicks for a football program known as the Tartans.

I asked Trey, Jack and Nick what it means for the youngest of the three to kick at a school where their mom is the principal and a field named after their legendary grandfather, whom they lovingly refer to as “Frahmpa.”

Said Trey Norell: “Nick getting to play at Ken Gunn Stadium during his career is really special. While Ken might not have been the biggest fan of kickers, he couldn’t have been a bigger fan of his grandkids, especially Nick. Ken loved football and was so happy when he found out Nick was eager to play high school football. What makes this game even more special, though, is the fact that Principal Norell gets to watch her son play on the same field named after her own father. If that’s not a reason to call a game special, I don’t know what is.”

Said Jack Norell: “I am so excited to get to watch my little brother play on Frahmpa’s football field. I had the honor of doing so three years ago and it was such an amazing experience. Go Tartans!”

Said Nick Norell: “I am excited to go to battle with my teammates at the field named after Frahmpa. I hope to contribute in any way possible for my team to win and make Frahmpa proud. It will be a special night to remember forever. My mom has played a huge role in my life. She’s always been supportive of me and my brothers and she continues to show up for us when we need it. I remember a lot about my grandpa, because he was truly one of the first people to ever introduce me to the game of football and he showed me what it means to be a leader on and off the field. I was 12 years old when we died. There are definitely many traits that he passed on to me like leadership and a great work ethic. I’m most proud to be a Norell, because that name means so much to each community that my mom has been to, and my Grandpa has been in, and that means so much to our family.”

Jamie’s husband Chip helps the GHS baseball booster club, and as busy as they are in their lives, there is nothing Mr. and Mrs. Norell won’t do to help support the programs, including donating their time in the varsity baseball snack stand.

In her time at GHS as both principal and AP for former Principal Paul Lopez, Mrs. Norell was always helpful in this writer being able to access the coaches and student-athletes so I was able to give Glendora athletes and programs the positive publicity they earned.

The only saving grace of losing Jamie to Walnut is knowing the best possible candidate, 1985 GHS graduate and three-sport athlete Rod Tilton now serves in that noble position.

Regardless if GHS or WHS leaves Dr. Ken Gunn Stadium with the W, both schools are better for having Jamie Norell walk their campus.

Up next: The Tartans are looking for win No. 1 after a 24-21 loss at SDHS last week.

The Mustangs edged Sierra Vista, 16-13, in their week-zero contest.

Lastly, if you feel a little mist on Thursday night over the Walnut High School football field, it’s just tears of joy coming from Dr. Gunn and his wife Linda looking down with pride at how well his daughter and grandkids turned out.

To view a photo gallery of the Gunn’s & Norell’s, click on the Facebook link here:  Facebook

Quotable:

CIF-SS Assistant Commissioner, Thom Simmons: “I have known Jamie Gunn-Norell, her husband, and the Gunn family for more than 25 years. They are all simply awesome people. Dr. Ken Gunn was a wonderful man and a dedicated educator for over 50 years. He served as CIF Southern Section Council President from 1994-96 and CIF State President from 1996-1998 while Principal of Walnut High School. He served on the CIF-SS Executive Committee until 2006. His father, Keith Gunn, was President of the CIF Southern Council from 1951-52 while Principal at Victor Valley High School. He served on the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee until 1970. Ken also served as the inaugural Chairman of the CIF State Football Bowl Championship Committee in 2006 when state football title games returned to California. Kenn Gunn received a CIF Southern Section Distinguished Service Award in 2006 and a CIF State Life Pass in 1995. His father received a CIF Southern Section Life Pass in 1970 in and a CIF State Life Pass in 1967.

Ken was raised in Victorville, CA where he was a standout athlete. He passed up multiple football scholarship offers to follow his dream of playing for UCLA’s legendary coach, Red Sanders. In addition to lettering in football, Ken was captain of the rugby team and later inducted into the UCLA Rugby Hall of Fame. He was the president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and a member of The Kelps, a men’s spirit organization devoted almost exclusively to playing pranks on USC. His love of fun and jokes, and his spite for USC, would continue for six decades. He was once asked, by a Trojan friend, why he was not rooting for USC in postseason play. Ken replied, “I wouldn’t root for USC if they were playing Soviet Russia.” It was also at UCLA where Ken met his wife, Linda Baxter Gunn. They were married for forty-seven years. After being stationed in Japan while in the Navy, Ken began his career in education as a teacher and football coach at Nogales High School. In 1968 he was part of the original group of teachers and staff who opened Walnut High School. He worked as a teacher, head varsity football coach, athletic director, assistant principal, and principal. In every role he was always, at his core, a coach. Even in retirement, Ken served as interim principal at Glendora High School and went back to his roots in football becoming an assistant coach of the Walnut High School freshman football team. He was, to me, a great leader, family man and friend.”

Glendora principal, Rod Tilton: “Jamie Norell is an outstanding principal because she truly understands what a comprehensive high school is all about. Her 17 years as an assistant principal overseeing curriculum gave her a deep understanding of the academic side of a school, while her experience as a cross-country and track coach and growing up watching her father, Ken Gunn, coach and lead a school gave her a true appreciation for activities, the arts, and athletics.

One of Jamie’s greatest strengths is her ability to support people. She not only steps up when staff needs support, but often recognizes when someone needs support before it is apparent to others. School districts do not name stadiums after people unless they have made a lasting impact on students and staff. Ken Gunn clearly did that, and Jamie had the privilege of learning from him from a young age. She has carried many of those lessons into her own leadership and into raising three outstanding young men with her husband, Chip.

I can honestly say there is not a day that goes by that I do not use something I learned from my years working with Jamie. She is an exceptional leader, educator, person, and friend, and her impact on those around her is lasting.”

Former Glendora & Fountain Valley High Schools/Current Glendora school board member, Paul Lopez: “Jamie and I actually started out as AP’s together for four years before I became the principal at GHS. Jamie was my right hand when I was a principal and we worked collaboratively together moving GHS forward as a comprehensive school. Meaning, we wanted all areas to thrive. Jamie is a very well organized person and understands that there is a process to getting things accomplished on a campus. She had great relationships on campus which is a must when being part is an administrative team. These traits carried her into her principalship.

She continues to build relationships in a new setting. It is not easy moving to another school when you have been in one place for so many years. Jamie has a had a successful transition and that is because of who she is. She has integrity, high character and she keeps her word. Her dad had a great influence on her. As the 17-year principal at Walnut, a successful football coach and the work he did for CIF all made for a great role model for Jamie professionally. Ken was also a fine role model as a father. I know for sure Ken is looking down from Heaven beaming with pride as he watches his daughter lead the school and his grandson kick field goals on a field named after his grandpa, although, it is for another team.”

Former GHS & current WHS assistant principal, Luz Lozano: “I did not have the opportunity to know or work with Dr. Gunn personally, but I see the lasting impact of his work at WHS every day. Colleagues who served alongside him continue to speak of him with deep respect, and his legacy is evident in the school community he helped build. Having worked with Mrs. Norell for more than 20 years, I have seen how profoundly Dr. Gunn’s example influenced her leadership both at GHS and WHS. She leads with the same vision, compassion, and commitment to family. I also had the privilege of teaching her older sons at GHS, and their kindness and respectfulness speak volumes about the values that guide their family. Her son playing on a field named for Dr. Gunn is more than a just a great sports story, it shows a legacy of leadership, family, and community that continues to touch our entire school community.”

Glendora football coach, Ryan Lawrence: “Jamie was extremely supportive when she hired me to be the head football coach at Glendora High School. She always found ways to help the football program and myself. I have known Jamie for over 20 years and she has always been there for me. Jamie is selfless and is an amazing administrator. Nick is a tremendous young man. He was a member of our first leadership development committee for our players this past spring. He is a man of character and is a leader. Nick spends his weekends going to kicking camps in the offseason while not playing baseball and is intrinsically motivated to be great. He is one of the first players at practice and one of the last to leave, always working on his craft. I have all the confidence in the world in Nick and I am glad that the best kicker in the SGV is on our team!”

Glendora basketball coach, Gordon Hamlow: “Jamie was a tremendous leader for us at Glendora High School. She was a strong supporter of not just basketball, but our entire athletic program. Her sons have gone through and I had the opportunity to watch them as they played football and baseball. They carried themselves with intensity and class on the field and were outstanding young men off the field. I think it’s a real treat that she has had the opportunity to follow her dad’s footsteps at Walnut High School. I can remember when he was the principal there as we competed against them when I coached at Rowland. He was always a positive uplifting person and just in general fun to be around. That doesn’t happen very often when it’s the opponents’ principal. Jamie is similar in many ways.”

Former GHS/current Citrus linebacker, Aidan Yamazaki: “Mrs. Norell was a great principal and she was very interactive with the students and it made Glendora a fun learning experience. She was also at a lot of sporting events even after she became the principal at Walnut, which was cool to see. Nick and Jack definitely were very bought into the team and they were always willing to do anything they could to help us win games. The Norell’s really made Glendora feel like a family.”

Glendora Superfan, Dustin O’Hara: “Mrs. Norell is very kind, sweet and a caring lady to everyone she meets and greets, whether it’s at Glendora or her new home at Walnut. You always get smiles and happy vibes when you see her. She always picks up your day with her positive manner. Mr. and Mrs. Norell obviously did a great job raising their boys based on the way they treat others. I’m personally rooting for Glendora and Nick to leave Walnut with the win.”

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