Administration changes as Pioneer principal leaves temporarily

PHOTO: Leigh Choate works in Amelia Hess’s office. She will be serving as one of Davis High’s vice principals for the month of October.

By Priscilla Lee,

BlueDevilHUB.com Editor–

The Davis Joint Unified School District recently changed its administration at several schools temporarily. This was due to Pioneer Elementary’s principal, Patricia Astin, requesting a temporary leave for the rest of October for unspecified reasons.

Starting on Oct.  8, Amelia Hess, one of Davis High’s vice principals, was transferred to Pioneer Elementary to serve as the interim principal for the time being.

To replace Hess, Leigh Choate, Holmes Junior High athletic director and Physical Education teacher, is temporarily one of the vice principals on DHS campus. “There was a need [at DHS] and I was asked to fill it,” Choate said.

This created the need for another substitute at Holmes. According to Maria Clayton, the DHS public relations officer, the principal there may be still figuring out the details because DJUSD administration don’t have a set system for emergency cases such as this.

“Each situation is unique, but as a general rule […] we always look for qualified candidates to fill interim positions and we certainly work to encourage and support employees who are willing to take on leadership roles for our school district,” Clayton said.