Principal, Assistant Accept New Posts

Beginning next month, the principal of Newbury Park High School will become the new director of secondary education for the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

The school’s assistant principal has also accepted a new position, as principal of Oak Park High School.

Trustees on Thursday voted to promote Charles Eklund, the Newbury High principal since 1990, to the districtwide post. He will replace Fred Van Leuven, who is leaving to become superintendent of the San Ynez Valley Union High School District in Santa Barbara County.

In his new position, Eklund will oversee the management and curriculum of grades seven through 12. He said Friday he is eager to begin his new job July 1.

Eklund, along with Assistant Principal Millie Andress, was responsible for bringing the International Baccalaureate Program to Newbury Park High School. The program allows upperclassmen to follow a special curriculum designed to meet international standards.

Three years ago, both administrators helped the school restructure its class schedule to allow longer periods of instruction for each subject. Eklund also helped develop a course, called Tech Prep Lab, that instructs students in various technological skills, from robotics to desktop publishing.

Andress, a Newbury Park High assistant principal since 1991, will take over as Oak Park’s principal July 1. She will replace Jeff Chancer, who has accepted a position as associate superintendent in the Ocean View School District in Oxnard.

Andress has worked in the Conejo Valley school district as a teacher, coach, counselor and administrator since 1968.