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New principal at YHS to continue excellence

By Earlene Ward / Community Correspondent

(Updated: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 5:22 PM)

As he assumes the position of Yosemite High School principal, Ed Van Hoose says he wants to continue the record of student success and excellence that the school has enjoyed in the past.

Academic achievement is his No. 1 goal coupled with giving all students the best high school experience possible.

"We want to provide the best educational experience for all of our high school students," he said, "and prepare them for life beyond high school. We want to prepare them for post-secondary education and for the work force."

His goals as principal of YHS mirror two of the main focuses of the Yosemite Unified School District: student achievement, specifically, and to provide a more intensive approach to student support through the Response to Intervention program.

The district has been in the planning phase for this program and this will be the year it is put into practice.

"This will allow students who need this support to be successful," he said.

Van Hoose says the school will continue to provide opportunities for success in a variety of ways through the academic program and through the extra-curricular activities that are offered.

He looks forward to having YHS earn the California Distinguished School designation again when its current designation expires. The school has been chosen as a Distinguished School for two four-year periods of time.

Van Hoose said he thinks of education as "developing skills in our youth that allow them to become life-long learners and productive members of society."

Van Hoose has been an assistant principal at YHS for the past two years and was promoted to the principal's position when Steve Raupp became the district's superintendent July 1.

He was in management in the private sector before going into education 18 years ago.

During his years in education, he has been an elementary, junior high and high school teacher and has worked as an administrator for 15 years at the junior high, high school, alternative education and district levels.

Van Hoose was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany, and finished his kindergarten through 12th-grade education in the Monterey Bay area. He moved to the San Joaquin Valley in 1982.

"Although we currently face challenging economic times, I am confident that the mountain community, our board of education, our students and parents and our staff at YHS can provide a comprehensive educational experience for all students.

"I certainly look forward to being the principal of the very successful programs offered at Yosemite High," he said. "It's a pleasure to serve a very involved, supportive community and to work with a very committed and competent staff."