Schools

San Clemente High Principal Moves to Ladera Ranch Middle School

George Duarte will close out the school year at SCHS, then start a new chapter.

San Clemente High School Principal George Duarte will be leaving that post at the end of the school year to become a principal at Ladera Ranch Middle School.

Duarte replaces Karen Gerhard, who announced she will retire in June, according to a Capistrano Unified School District Press release.

The move means Capo Unified will start the 2013-14 year with possibly three new high school principals. A new principal at Tesoro was just named, and the district is looking to fill the spot at Junipero Serra High School.

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Duarte sought the position to gain middle school experience and to take on new challenges, the press release states.

“During his tenure at San Clemente High School, George has overseen a marked improvement in academic achievement as well as increased graduation and college attendance rates,” Superintendent Joe Farley said in a prepared statement.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We believe George’s experience leading a large, complex, and successful high school community will translate to continued success for the students at Ladera Ranch Middle School,” Farley said.

Duarte began his career in education as a history teacher at Redondo Union High School in 1992. He then taught at Desert High School in Antelope Valley for four years before becoming an assistant principal.

In 1999, Duarte joined the San Clemente High School staff as an assistant principal. He was promoted to principal in 2006.


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