THOUSAND OAKS : School Principal Says He Will Resign

Thousand Oaks High School Principal Lance Erie has announced his resignation and will move at the end of this school year to his hometown of Spokane, Wash., where he will become a junior high school principal.

Erie and his wife, Carol, had planned to move to Spokane for some time because they want to eventually retire there, he said. They bought property in Spokane years ago and began building a house there in March, even before he was offered the job, Erie said. His mother is ill, and his move will also bring him closer to her, Erie said.

Erie, 52, grew up in Spokane and left to attend UCLA in 1957, he said. He has remained in California since.

“I leave T.O. with real mixed feelings,”Erie said. “They’re the greatest kids in the world.”

But he said he is looking forward to helping Evergreen Junior High School make the transition to becoming a middle school, Erie said.

Erie, who has been principal at Thousand Oaks High School for five years, has been with the Conejo Valley Unified School District for 13 years.

He served as principal at Colina Intermediate School and assistant principal at Westlake and Thousand Oaks high schools.

His last day will be June 30.

The district has begun advertising for applicants to fill Erie’s position, said William Seaver, superintendent of Conejo Valley Unified.

“We’ve started the search already. It closes on the 5th of June, and we’re hoping to have an appointment on the 11th,” Seaver said.

“I think it will be very hard to replace Lance. He’s been an outstanding principal.”

Carol Erie, who is superintendent of the Santa Paula Union High School District, will stay in her position for at least a year, Erie said.