Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year

Dear Parents and Guardians, Through today’s letter, I welcome you back to a school year that is focused on one goal above all others; that is, the inherent excitement in having our students and staff in school every day, operating in safe conditions throughout the year. With your students, you, the district staff and the Board of Education working together, we will make this goal a reality. Moving forward from that focus, I want to underscore the main theme in my opening comments to the community at the August 17 Board Meeting. Specifically, that Newport-Mesa Unified School District is an absolutely first-rate organization with outstanding professionals. I am honored to serve as your interim superintendent for about two months – from Russell Lee-Sung’s retirement on August 2 until your new superintendent of schools occupies this chair. Now, let me introduce myself. I will capture a 50-year career in education in one paragraph, working backward from the recent past. In 2017, I retired as the superintendent of schools for the Ojai Unified School District after eight years in that position. Before coming to Ojai, I served as a superintendent of schools in suburban Chicago for 19 years and suburban New York City for four years. Prior to my life as a superintendent, I was a high school principal, assistant principal, social studies teacher and interscholastic athletic coach. Most importantly from my present professional perspective, I will share with you a portion of the letter I wrote to the Trustees before they interviewed me for this interim position. “Above all other characteristics, any successful interim superintendent must keep one’s ego in check. It is critical to remember that you are there to provide a high-quality bridge to the next district leader; not to place your personal stamp on the district. The best interims whom I succeeded as the superintendent performed in this manner. However, there will be decisions that fall squarely to the person sitting in this office. These must be made professionally and expeditiously. The board and staff must believe that the interim has thoroughly and consistently sought meaningful input from key constituents before a major decision is made. Finally, that decision and the underlying process for reaching it must be communicated clearly.” Of course, I am keenly aware of the challenges that educators and families throughout the nation faced last school year. I wish for each of your students, you and the district staff a year full of wonderful interactions in our classrooms and in all other educational settings in the district. All of you deserve that experience. Sincerely, Hank Bangser Interim Superintendent
Source: CDM High School New