The Hart School District governing board announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Vierra tothe position of Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, following the retirement of Rob Gapper later this month. Gapper worked for the Hart School District for more than 33 years. The appointmentwas approved at the regular board meeting held last night, effective January 7, 2013.

Dr. Vierra comes to the Hart School District after more than 20 years in public education with the Lancaster and the Antelope Valley Union High School Districts. Dr. Vierra began his career as a teacher at the elementary level and then moved to junior high and high school. His administrative experience has all been at the secondary level including the position of principal at Palmdale High School and as the first principal of William J. “Pete” Knight High School in Palmdale. For the last eight years Dr. Vierra has served as Assistant Superintendent of Educational and Student Services in the Antelope Valley Union High School District.

Dr. Vierra has a Bachelor of Arts in Diversified Liberal Arts from the University of San Diego, an Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Azusa Pacific University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Claremont Graduate University. He is a resident of Santa Clarita with his wife Elizabeth, an elementary school teacher, and two sons, John and Andrew, both of whom currently attend schools in the Hart School District.

“I really look forward to continuing the great work going on in the Hart School District and I appreciate the opportunity to serve in this capacity,” Dr. Vierra said.