Community High selects new principal
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Jorge Espinoza

Jorge Espinoza has been named principal of Community High School by the district school board. Espinoza will replace Dr. Gabino Aguirre, who is retiring after 20 years at the helm of the continuation high school.

"I am honored to have been selected," Espinoza said. "I look forward to working with a great group of students and staff and becoming a member of the Moorpark Unified School District administrative team."

Espinoza is completing the school year at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, where he is the assistant principal in charge of attendance and special education.

With his experience as a counselor and assistant principal at an inner-city high school, Espinoza is well-prepared to support the social and emotional needs of local students, according to District Superintendent Ellen Smith. He's also wellqualified to develop instructional programs that will prepare Community High students for college and technical training, she said.

Espinoza's warm personality will make him highly approachable for students and parents, and his fluency in Spanish will facilitate communication with many families, Smith said.

Because Community High School uses innovative instructional strategies and personalized guidance to help at-risk youth, the school sought a leader with experience working with at-risk students.

Espinoza said he applied for the job in Moorpark because he enjoys helping students who have special concerns. He looks forward to working in a smaller school environment where can know his students individually. He's been working with at-risk youth for the past 16 years.

"It's a group of kids who are close to my heart," he said.

Espinoza, 37, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in international relations and a master's in secondary education and moved west when he was 26 years old.

He currently lives with his family in Los Angeles, but they plan to relocate to Ventura County. Espinoza's wife, Marnie, is an English teacher who is taking time off to be at home with their two young children.

The school board was impressed by Espinoza, trustee David Pollock said.

"He is personable and obviously dedicated to kids. He seemed to have the characteristics that would make him fit well in the Moorpark family," Pollock said.