Veteran educator Mike Ristuccia will be leading students and staff into the 2008-09 school year as the new principal of Weed High School.
The former teacher, football coach and administrator for McCloud, Jefferson and Mount Shasta high schools replaces former Mike Matheson who took over the position of district superintendent. Ristuccia said he sees this as a great opportunity to transition to a comprehensive high school and further his profession.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” he said. “Weed High School has been moving in a very positive direction. I would like to maintain that growth and increase it where I can with the goal of becoming a community oriented high school.”
In his ninth year with the Siskiyou Union High School District and 17th overall year in education, the Los Angeles area native now resides in Weed with his wife and three daughters, who are in kindergarten, second and fourth grade at Weed Elementary School.
“This is a good move for me and my family,” he said. “My kids are particularly happy that I’ll be working in Weed and they’ll be able to see me more often.”
Ristuccia began his education career in Crescent City, but said that he and his wife Patricia, who serves on the Weed Union Elementary School District board of trustees, had always wanted live in Siskiyou County to raise a family.
In 2000 the Ristuccias moved to the area when Mike was offered a resource teaching position at McCloud High School, where he also served as the head football coach.
He also held the position of Director of Alternative Education for the SUHSD, which he held until accepting his current position.
For the 2002-03 school year, Mike divided his time between McCloud and Mount Shasta high, teaching and coaching football. He then moved to MSHS full-time as the Dean of Students and the football coach.
Mike enjoyed his first full-time administrative position last year at Jefferson High School before transitioning to WHS.
“My first year (at WHS) I’ll be looking at building relationships with the staff, students and the community,” said Ristuccia. “I’ve always been impressed with the tight community at this school, it’s a good thing to be a part of.”
Mike said that one of the most attractive aspects of his new position is that he’ll be centered at one school which will allow him to get to know the people he works with that much better. He said he is excited about holding an administrative position at a school that has extracurricular activities on campus.
“There’s a special kind of excitement and buzz that comes with seeing the school sports teams playing on campus,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to that.”