Jason d’Autremont – Hart High.

The Governing Board of the William S. Hart Union High School District appointed four new principals the three high school and one junior high Wednesday night.

The four principals are Jason d-Autremnot at Hart, Shellie Holcombe at Canyon, Stephen Ford at Valencia and John Turner at Placerita Junior High.

Jason d’Autremont, current principal at Canyon, returns to Hart where he began his teaching career. He takes over for Dr. Collyn Nielsen who accepted the cabinet-level position of Chief Administrative Officer for the Hart School District. Mr. d’Autremont was a special education teacher and department chair from 2003-2009, varsity football coach from 2002-2009, assistant principal at Hart from 2009-2012, assistant principal at Canyon from 2012-2014, and principal at Canyon from 2014 to now. Married with four sons, d’Autremont was named ACSA SCV Secondary Co-Administrator of the Year in 2012 and Secondary Principal of the Year in 2016. He has a Masters Degree in Educational leadership and Policy Studies.

Shellie Holcombe – Canyon High.

Shellie Holcombe becomes the new principal at Canyon after four years as an assistant principal at Saugus. Mrs. Holcombe was an elementary school teacher in the Sulphur Springs School District for 11 years before going to Canyon as an English teacher for four years. She then moved to the Hart District Office as a Teacher on Special Assignment before taking the job at Saugus. Married with three children, Mrs. Holcombe is a graduate of Saugus High School, COC, CSUN and UCLA.

Stephen Ford – Valencia High.

Stephen Ford is new to the Hart School District but not new to running a high school. He will take over at Valencia beginning on July 1, after current Principal John Costanzo retires at the end of this school year. Mr. Ford has been a principal in the Antelope Valley High School District since 2012 where, among other things, he increased graduation rates by instituting professional development (PD) for his staff, including online PD that focused on 21st century classrooms. He was an assistant principal at two separate comprehensive high schools in the Antelope Valley, and before that a teacher and football coach at Lancaster High School. Mr. Ford has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a master’s degree in educational administration.

John Turner – Placerita Junior High.

John Turner will become the principal of Placerita Junior High School effective Feb. 20, with the promotion of Jan Hayes-Rennels to the District Office as Director of Special Programs and Staff Development. Mr. Turner has been an assistant principal at Hart High School since 2005 where he has been responsible for facilities, professional development, special education, athletics, activities, WASC, attendance, technology and English Learners to name a few. Prior to coming to the Hart District, Mr. Turner had extensive teaching and leadership experience in both Georgia and Tennessee. He taught students in grades 5-12, coached basketball and baseball, supervised various student groups, was a trainer of teachers, a science instructional specialist/coordinator, and then director supporting multiple schools in a large district. Mr. Turner has a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science in Biology from Tennessee Technological University, and an Educational Specialist Degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Educational Leadership.