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4 elementary schools to get assistant principals

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Two Newport-Mesa Unified School District teachers have been tapped to become assistant principals at four elementary schools.

Jacob Topete, a fifth-grade teacher at Newport Heights who has taught in the district since 2007, will serve as assistant principal at Newport Heights and Whittier elementary schools. Marc Africano, a sixth-grade teacher at Newport Heights, will become assistant principal at Mariners and Kaiser elementary schools, according to a news release.

The school board approved the appointments during its meeting Tuesday night.

Newport Heights, Kaiser, Mariners and Whittier are the four largest elementary schools in the district and therefore are in need of extra support, said district spokeswoman Laura Boss

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Assistant principals were present at the district’s larger elementary schools several years ago. The positions were eliminated during budget cuts, Boss said.

Topete and Africano will evaluate staff, assist with student discipline, curriculum and staff development, said John Caldecott, executive director of human resources.

“In a large elementary school that’s a huge support that will help the operation,” he said.

Both Topete and Africano have participated in the Newport-Mesa Leadership Academy and served as a teacher leaders at Newport Heights.

“Each semester Jake is a guest speaker in one of my classes at Vanguard University because I want the college students to see an extraordinary example of an amazing teacher and person,” former district administrator Ken Killian wrote in a prepared statement.

Africano has taught in the district for the past 10 years.

“Marc approaches challenges with enthusiasm and grace,” Adams Elementary Principal Gabe Del Real wrote. “He works closely with parents and creates solutions with empathy.”

Africano and Topete will continue their current roles until new teachers are selected. They will receive at least a 5% increase in pay, Caldecott said.

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