Amador County – Amador High School has a new principal effective for the 2012-2013 school year. Amador County Unified School District on Wednesday announced the hiring of a new principal at Amador High, Jared Critchfield.

Superintendent of Schools Dick Glock said Jared Critchfield has been named the new principal of Amador High, and Critchfield is a local graduate, entering his fifth year with Amador Unified.

Glock said Critchfield is a very popular teacher at Amador High School, ending his fourth year there as a Spanish teacher. Glock said the reason he is very popular is because he is very effective.

The School District actually had two local high school graduates apply for the Amador principal position, and Glock said they tried to get a person with deep interests and ties to Amador County into the position. They succeeded, in hiring Critchfield, who was one of the local graduates who applied. He said Critchfield is a 1999 graduate of Argonaut High School.

Former principal Laurie Amick left the position at Amador High at the end of this school year after two years and will return to Ione Elementary School as its principal, which position she had held before taking the top administrator position at Amador. Ione Elementary School had an opening for principal, Glock and the school wanted her back, so Amick is the new principal at Ione Elementary.

Butch Wagner was also named the new principal for the new Educational Options Program, which will cover alternative school, court school, and adult education programs. At Amador High, Kaleb Cagle was named Athletic Director, in a part time position.

Also Wednesday, the School District board of trustees received a report of gifts to the district that included $27,000 in donations to the Laura Spinetta Library Fund. For graduation, Thomi’s Café and Bakery also donated breakfast for all graduating seniors. And the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians donated baseball and softball equipment and materials for the field upkeep to Argonaut High School.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.