The retirement of Valencia High principal John Costanzo has been officially confirmed by Hart School District officials after other media outlets released the information, long before he wanted to make it public.

Before starting the process of retirement, Costanzo requested that nothing be sent out before he had time to talk to his family and community members.

Costanzo’s announcement of retiring by the end of the year was confirmed by Dave Caldwell, the Hart District spokesman.

Costanzo took the helm of Valencia High School in the summer of 2014 as principal, but held other positions beforehand.

He served as Rio Norte’s principal since 2007, having high scores under his leadership.

Related: Hart District Introduces New Principals For Valencia, West Ranch

Costanzo started his teaching career as a coach, teacher and administrator in the Arcadia and Glendale School Districts, before joining the Hart District in 1998.

He served as assistant principal at Saugus High School until 2004 and then at West Ranch from 2004 to 2007.

Costanzo has earned several awards during his years in Santa Clarita schools, including Middle School Principal of the Year from the Santa Clarita Valley Association of California School Administrators in 2011, the SCV ACSA David Millen Mentoring Award in 2008 and several awards from the Learning Disabilities Association of California.

“(Costanzo) has administrative experience inside the district and outside,” said Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Hart District board member in a previous interview.

Because Rio Norte is a feeder school for Valencia High, “so many of them were his parents at both the schools,” she said, “and the schools articulated very well.”

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