District announces changes

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District will see at least two more new leaders this year, as Costa Mesa High School Principal John Garcia and College Park Elementary School Principal Pat Insley both left the district this month.

Garcia has accepted a position as assistant superintendent of human resources in the Glendale Unified School District, while Insley has announced her retirement.

Ed Wong, formerly the principal of Ensign Intermediate School, has been appointed to fill Garcia’s post, while the district has yet to fill the principal positions at College Park and Ensign.

“It is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to John and wish him well in his new role,” Elizabeth Novack, the assistant superintendent of human resources, said in a news release. She added Insley had provided “exemplary leadership” at College Park during her time there.

Newport-Mesa has already had a high level of turnover this year, with Harbor View Elementary School Principal Judy Burgess leaving the district and TeWinkle Middle School Principal Dan Diehl, Costa Mesa Middle School Principal Kirk Bauermeister, Eastbluff Elementary School Principal Charlene Metoyer, Harper Preschool Principal Gina Cataldo, Pomona Elementary School Principal Janis King and Kaiser Elementary School Principal Stacy Holmes moving to other campuses.

— Michael Miller