South Lake Tahoe native chosen as interim principal at Sierra House Elementary

Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) officials didn't have to look far in getting a replacement for Ryan Galles, outgoing Sierra House Elementary principal.

South Lake Tahoe native Karin Holmes will take the school's top spot on an interim basis beginning August 7.

"It is very exciting," Karin told South Tahoe Now. "What they are doing at Sierra House is amazing! With the garden and health and fitness focus there is no moss growing at the school."

The 1984 graduate of South Tahoe High attended University of California, Davis. Upon graduation she landed her first job at the same school she will now be tasked with leading as the school's physical education specialist.

Her LTUSD career grew to her becoming a 6th grade PE teacher and coach at South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) where she was also able to coach South Tahoe High School country running, cross county skiing and track for 12 years.

Karin moved to be the STMS assistant principal four years ago and will now be starting her 29th year working for the district at the same time she starts her new position.

Married to husband Chris just two days after starting her teaching career at LTUSD, the couple has four children as well as a three-year-old grandson who is now living with them. Chris is a golf pro and does the merchandising at Edgewood Tahoe.

Karin, whose mother Carol Haase-Hug was also a teacher in South Lake Tahoe, has five brothers and sister: Brother Jerod Haase, who is the current basketball coach at Stanford, joins brothers Steven and David, and sister Mara.

Galles left after the 2016/17 school year to become the Director of Elementary Education for Vacaville Union School District.

Taking Holmes' former job as assistant principal at STMS, also on an interim basis, will be Bijou Community School's Alana Cayabyab.