Former Muir Assistant Tim Sippel Named Next John Muir Principal

The Pasadena Unified School District announced Thursday that former John Muir High School assistant principal Tim Sippel will be the next principal of the school.

The PUSD release has more details about Sippel:

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Jon R. Gundry announced today that he has named Tim Sippel as principal of John Muir High School, effective July 1, 2012. Sippel, who currently serves as director of the district's Linked Learning (College & Career Pathways) initiative, was assistant principal of John Muir and helped lead its reinvention in 2007.

"As a leading force in the reinvention that transformed John Muir, Tim brings an unparalleled depth of knowledge about the school, its students, staff and community," said Gundry. "His vision, leadership and experience in developing the school's wall-to-wall academy model and in leading the districtwide Linked Learning initiative will help steer John Muir High School to the next level of academic excellence."

Sippel has led the district's College and Career Pathways initiative since July 2011. The initiative won a two-year $1.15 million grant from ConnectEd: the California Center for College and Career, with the support of the James Irvine Foundation and the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) to develop programs that prepare high school students for both college and careers. PUSD currently operates six multiyear high school programs organized around career themes or industry sectors and will add two others this fall.

As assistant principal of John Muir since 2008, Sippel supported strategic planning for the school's three College & Career Pathways; administered the school's Business and Entrepreneurship Academy, which won pathway certification status by ConnectEd; and oversaw the Career Technical Education program for all three academies. He also served as liaison for the district initiatives with Pasadena City College. In 2007, he was a leader in the reinvention of John Muir High School, which had been on the brink of state takeover because of poor achievement. Since then, academic test scores have risen and the dropout rate has declined.

"John Muir High School has accomplished an amazing transformation over the last four years, and I know it has the potential to attain much higher levels of achievement and opportunity for all of its students," said Sippel. "I feel very honored to be entrusted with the opportunity to lead this great school at this critical juncture in its history."

Sippel joined PUSD as assistant principal and dean of students at Blair High School in 2005. Previously, he was coordinator of English Learner programs at the Foshay Learning Center in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  He began his career through Teach for America in LAUSD in 1991.  Mr. Sippel has a bachelor's degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a master's degree in Education from UCLA and has completed requirements for the California Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential at the California School Leadership Academy.

The selection process included panel interviews with teachers, parents and staff. Sippel replaces Sheryl Orange, who announced earlier this year that she would step down after four years as John Muir High School principal.

Selection of the next director of Linked Learning will begin this summer.

Muir parents, what do you think of the decision?  Do you know Sippel?  Let us know below in the comments section.