Claremont district superintendent to leave for Duarte
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - Terry Nichols has decided to leave the Claremont Unified School District after less than two years as its superintendent.
Nichols will leave Claremont Unified to be superintendent of Duarte Unified School District.
"Everyone feels like Dr. Nichols is coming home," said Pam Kawasaki, Duarte Unified school board president. "Duarte is his home. I haven't had a single person who isn't thoroughly excited about his returning."
Nichols will leave Claremont Unified to be superintendent of Duarte Unified School District.
"Everyone feels like Dr. Nichols is coming home," said Pam Kawasaki, Duarte Unified school board president. "Duarte is his home. I haven't had a single person who isn't thoroughly excited about his returning."
Nichols served as an intermediate principal, high school principal, director of curriculum and assistant superintendent of education services from 1998 to 2009 at Duarte Unified.
"I consider this move as going home and am very pleased," Nichols said. "It is an honor and a privilege to be working closely with the board and the community that continues to focus on student success."
Duarte Unified's school board on Monday approved hiring Nichols. His first day at the district has not been finalized, Kawasaki said.
Nichols was named Claremont Unified's superintendent in July 2009. He replaced David Cash who had resigned earlier in the year.
Lisa Shoemaker, Claremont Unified's assistant superintendent of business services, said she was surprised by Nichols departure.
"I don't think it was something he anticipated," Shoemaker said. "I'm not sure how it went down, but it went down quickly."
Claremont Unified's interim superintendent has not been determined, Shoemaker said. Shoemaker served as interim superintendent when Cash left the district.
Nichols will replace Duarte Unified Superintendent Dean Conklin. On Jan. 18, Conklin will take over as superintendent of Walnut Valley Unified School District, which includes schools in Walnut and Diamond Bar. Conklin's final day at Duarte Unified is set for Jan. 15.
"I worked at Walnut Valley for 12 years prior to coming to Duarte," Conklin said. "And Dr. Nichols was in Duarte for a long period of time before Claremont. In a sense both of us are going home."
"I consider this move as going home and am very pleased," Nichols said. "It is an honor and a privilege to be working closely with the board and the community that continues to focus on student success."
Duarte Unified's school board on Monday approved hiring Nichols. His first day at the district has not been finalized, Kawasaki said.
Nichols was named Claremont Unified's superintendent in July 2009. He replaced David Cash who had resigned earlier in the year.
Lisa Shoemaker, Claremont Unified's assistant superintendent of business services, said she was surprised by Nichols departure.
"I don't think it was something he anticipated," Shoemaker said. "I'm not sure how it went down, but it went down quickly."
Claremont Unified's interim superintendent has not been determined, Shoemaker said. Shoemaker served as interim superintendent when Cash left the district.
Nichols will replace Duarte Unified Superintendent Dean Conklin. On Jan. 18, Conklin will take over as superintendent of Walnut Valley Unified School District, which includes schools in Walnut and Diamond Bar. Conklin's final day at Duarte Unified is set for Jan. 15.
"I worked at Walnut Valley for 12 years prior to coming to Duarte," Conklin said. "And Dr. Nichols was in Duarte for a long period of time before Claremont. In a sense both of us are going home."
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