Principals Bring Experience, Ideas to New Academic Year

Considering his one-year contract, it’s not surprising that John Hyland would want prompt results at North Hollywood High School. But the interim principal says the achievements of his students motivate him more than does his own professional advancement.

“If I had been asked to come in and maintain the status quo, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “This is a very complicated school. There are great challenges, to be sure. But I’m optimistic.”

Hyland started work Aug. 19 and will be evaluated at the end of the school year. He has served in several Los Angeles-area schools, as assistant principal at Eagle Rock and Belmont high schools and as an administrator helping teachers at six schools improve their classroom techniques.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Hyland earned a master’s degree in social and intellectual history at Cal State L.A. and a doctorate in education at UCLA.

He followed his graduate studies with several middle-school teaching jobs in L.A. schools.