Three more principals leave Newport-Mesa

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- District officials have begun the search for what

will be Mariners Elementary School’s fifth principal in the last nine

years.

Mary Ann Ehret’s resignation this summer was the fourth accepted at

the school since Bruce Crockard left in 1991.

While each administrator had different reasons for leaving the Newport

Beach school, principal turnover has become an alarming trend on the

campus -- and within the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

This year alone, six principals have left the district, including

recent departures of Costa Mesa High School’s Andy Hernandez and Ensign

Intermediate School’s Allan Mucerino.

In the last four years, the school board has consistently had to hire

at least five new principals each year, said nine-year school board

member Martha Fluor.

“Almost every principal in the district is new,” she said.

Administrators’ reasons for leaving range from ailing spouses to

conflicts with parents at the school. But one key issue remains constant:

money.

“It’s a lot [of resignations], and it’s a great loss to our district,”

Fluor said. “They’re seeking other opportunities, possibly because of

salary. We don’t pay our administrators; they’re at the bottom.”

Ensign’s Mucerino gave his notice this week when he accepted a

position at La Paz Intermediate School in the Saddleback Unified School

District.

“Allan really wants to, and someday will probably be, a great

superintendent,” Supt. Robert Barbot said. “He was looking for more money

and an opportunity at a bigger school. So when that opening came up...

it’s a great move for him. It will give him more money and another school

experience and keep him on the path to where he wants to go.”

Costa Mesa High’s Hernandez resigned this week to move on to the

Tustin Unified School District.

At 55 years old, Hernandez was looking to gain experience at one more

high school before retirement and felt he had done all he could at Costa

Mesa, Barbot said.

While Mariners’ Ehret also took a position at another school district

-- as a counselor in the Tustin district -- her departure follows a

tumultuous tenure.

During her two years at Mariners, Ehret made several changes -- some

of which were not well-received by a number of teachers and parents.

Other parents who liked Ehret’s style were stunned when news got out that

she had resigned.

“Frankly, I’m disappointed to see her go,” said Mariners parent Ann

Ramser. “As president of the [Mariners school] foundation for two years,

I had nothing but positive experiences with her. I wish Mary Ann well,

but I have an issue with this being our third principal in four years.”

But district officials said her reason for leaving was a desire to

return to secondary education, and not the difficulties she may have had

with teachers and parents.

“She’s made changes, and I know of one or two situations where people

weren’t happy. But I also know a lot of people have been happy,” Supt.

Robert Barbot said. “Practically every administrator I’ve ever known has

had someone that didn’t like the changes they made, including me.”

None of the three most recent departures -- Ehret, Mucerino or

Hernandez -- could be reached for comment Tuesday. But they made up only

half of the six principals to leave Newport-Mesa this spring.

Bob Boies took his retirement a year earlier than planned, leaving

Newport Harbor High School.

Mary Ann Gilbreth reluctantly left Killybrooke Elementary School to

return to her hometown of Chicago, where she felt she could better care

for her sick husband.

And Rosemary Munoz left Lincoln Elementary School, also to care for an

ailing spouse.

Despite the exodus, Barbot said the district has things very much

under control.

“We have some outstanding people coming in behind them,” he said.

TOO MUCH TURNOVER?

Are you troubled by the number of principals leaving the Newport-Mesa

school district? What can the district do to keep them? Call our Readers

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