Meet Your Principals
Message from Principal Dr. Ben Wardrop
Welcome to Mark Twain Elementary School!
It is an honor to welcome you to our school community. Here at Twain, we believe every child deserves to feel valued, challenged, and inspired. Together with our dedicated staff and families, we are committed to creating a learning environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Our mission is to provide a high-quality education that develops critical thinkers, problem solvers, and compassionate citizens who are prepared for an ever-changing world. As proud Mark Twain River Rafters, we teach and reinforce the values that help every student succeed — O.A.R.S. — demonstrating an Outstanding Attitude, being Respectful, and making Safe choices each day.
We know that student success is built through strong partnerships between school and home. We encourage families to become active members of our school community through the PTA, School Site Council, ELAC, volunteering, and school events.
Throughout the year, I will keep you informed through our weekly newsletter, our website, and ParentSquare. Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We look forward to partnering with you to make this an exceptional year for every Twain community member.
Warmly,
Ben Wardrop
Principal, Mark Twain Elementary School
Leadership Team
Principal Dr. Ben Wardrop
Dr. Wardrop brings 15 years of experience in educational leadership and a strong commitment to supporting students, building relationships, and partnering with families. Earlier in his career, he had the privilege of serving the Lawndale community as a principal in the Centinela Valley Union High School District, where he spent six of his fifteen years with the district. Most recently, he served as the Director of Student Services for the Beverly Hills Unified School District. His educational career started at San Diego State University where he completed a double major in both Kinesiology and Business Management. Dr. Wardrop earned his science teaching credential from CSU Los Angeles and a masters in Educational Leadership from Cal State University, Northridge. Most recently, he completed his Educational Doctorate at Loyola Marymount University. Throughout his career, Dr. Wardrop has worked alongside students, families, and educators to create inclusive learning environments, strengthen school communities, expand opportunities for students, and support academic success and student well-being.
Assistant Principal Brittney Campbell
Britney Campbell is excited to be joining Mark Twain as Assistant Principal. She earned her Master's in Education in Milwaukee with Teach for America, along with degrees from UC Irvine. With over a decade of working in schools, she has served as a classroom teacher, MTSS specialist, and instructional leader, most recently in Culver City, California. Brittney is passionate about using her experience to effectively support all teachers, students, and families at Twain.
