Haskin Returns as Palisades High Principal

Five years after announcing her retirement from school administration, Marcia Haskin hasn’t actually retired. The 66-year-old has continued to work in education, and she just returned to the helm at Palisades Charter High School for a second stint as interim principal. ‘I was really thrilled when I was asked if I was available,’ said Haskin, a Marina del Rey resident. ‘I have never felt about a school the way I feel about this one. It’s just a joy to work here; I feel like it’s a fit. When I come here, I don’t feel like I’m working.’ Haskin, who retired in 2004 after 38 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District, was principal of Palms Middle School for three years and the director of secondary services for LAUSD for two years. In that role, she supervised principals at five schools. Shortly after announcing her retirement, Haskin began working at Loyola Marymount University, supervising new teachers in the process of getting their credentials. In 2007, PaliHi’s board asked her to serve as principal on an interim basis, while the school searched to replace Gloria Martinez. The board then hired Escondido Union High School District administrator Martin Griffin, who left after only one year. Unable to find a replacement this summer, the board voted unanimously to ask Haskin back. ‘Marcia brings an incredible level of enthusiasm and experience to the job,’ Board Chair Rene Rodman said. ‘The fact that she knows Pali is a tremendous asset.’ Haskin, who works Mondays through Thursdays, may be at the school as little as one semester. However, she is available through the end of the school year if needed. ‘The board has not yet discussed go-forward plans for the principal position and will revisit this at an upcoming meeting,’ Rodman said. In order for Haskin to receive her retirement benefits, she earns half the annual salary of a high school principal. On average, a high school principal earns $100,000. Her job is to resolve conflicts between students, teachers and parents, as well as to evaluate teachers in the classroom. The school has a director of instruction, Richard Thomas, who assists with curriculum and supervising teachers. In Haskin’s year away from PaliHi, she enjoyed spending time with her husband Mark, daughter Jennifer Friedlander of Manhattan Beach, and three grandchildren: Ashlyn, 7, Blythe, 5, and Madeline, 2. She also bowled and played golf. ‘I did all the things retirees do,’ she said, chuckling. ‘But I have always had my heart in my career.’ That is why last year she spent two days a week at Crenshaw High School mentoring two new assistant principals and implementing LAUSD and the Ojai Foundation’s council program, which she describes as ‘a process of communication where people sit in a circle, listening and speaking from the heart.’ ‘It’s a wonderful way to communicate and hear people’s stories,’ Haskin said, noting the program is for students, staff and parents. Haskin, who was first introduced to council at Palms Middle School, also started the program at PaliHi prior to leaving in the spring of 2008. PaliHi parent Harriet Zaretsky’s 17-year-old son, Dillon Henry, had died in an automobile accident on Sunset Boulevard in July 2007, and she had asked administrators how she could honor her son’s memory. Haskin suggested she contribute to this program, so Zaretsky paid for a group of about 25 students, teachers and counselors to attend training at the Ojai Foundation in summer 2008. ‘A few councils were held last year, but it did not permeate beyond that [initial] group,’ Haskin said. Her goal this fall is to expand the program school-wide. On August 31 and September 1, 24 teachers received council training on campus. Haskin then led the first council circle for faculty on September 14. In addition to council, Haskin plans to train and mentor the administration team on evaluating instruction in the classroom. She wants to give teachers interested in leadership roles the tools they need to pursue them. Plus, she would like to assist with the selection of the permanent principal. Haskin said she’s glad to be working as a principal again. ‘I like solving problems and making a situation better for someone, a team or an institution,’ she said. ‘I just fly from that; I’m on cloud nine.’