New STHS principal introduced as Chad Houck prepares for new job

Friday will be the last day on the job at South Tahoe High School (STHS) for Principal Chad Houck. He, his wife and five children are headed to Ridgecrest where he'll be the Dean of Instruction for Cerro Coso Community College starting June 5.

"Our time in South Lake Tahoe has been blessed with many great experiences and meaningful relationships," said Houck. "My time at STHS with the staff, students, and parents has been a highlight of my career, and I wish that the positive momentum we have will continue. The areas that we have been improving are long term investments that take time, and I know that the STHS staff, students, and parents have the potential to continue improving the education and experience for the community."

He has made an impact on teachers and students alike. Some STHS seniors stood up and spoke during Tuesday's Lake Tahoe Unified School Board (LTUSD) meeting as they had heard a rumor that Houck wasn't being allowed to speak at their graduation. Dr. Tarwater said he was invited, but with his new job in Southern California he most likely wouldn't be able to attend.

"I will however do all I can to be able to watch this group of seniors graduate," said Houck.

He has been working on a statement he'll say to that class when he sees them for the first time: “It may be that none of us ever fully understand why things end up the way they do. However, it is important that when we can, we work to make sure that the outcomes are due to our choices and not those of someone else who attempts to wield power over us.”

As Houck leaves, the new principal was introduced to the community during Tuesday's LTUSD board meeting.

Carline Sinkler will be relocating to South Lake Tahoe with her husband Marshall, and their 18-year-old. She also has two step-children, a 28-year-old son who teaches high school math and a 31-year-old daughter who is a nurse. Marshall will be opting for early retirement from his job as a physical education teacher in the Bay Area. They are now house hunting on the South Shore.

"I'm very much looking forward to serving this community," Sinkler said after being approved by the board. "I have longed to be in a smaller community for a long time. I like to know my neighbors and talk to people at the grocery store."

Sinkler is coming from San Francisco where she has been most recently a middle school principal. She has a masters in math education but learned her love for teaching as a Kung Fu instructor, a passion of her for five years while in her 20s. During a school board Q & A she said Kung Fu formed the rest of her teaching career with the mental/physical/intellectual approach to learning.

She said she likes to bring out the best of everyone and looks forward to working with the staff, students, parents and community. She said she is looking forward to project based learning as the school moves through the change to required Common Core standards.

Sinkler is also a big believer in a "we" attitude in making everyone involved with the school a success.

Justin Zunino will be the school's interim principal from May 30 until Sinkler's arrival on June 29.