Former assistant principal at West Ranch High School, John Costanzo becomes the Rio Norte’s second principal

John Costanzo, who has served as assistant principal at West Ranch High School since its opening in 2004, has been named principal of Rio Norte Junior High School. The appointment was confirmed by the Hart District Governing Board at its regular meeting on Sept. 5.

Costanzo replaces John Krinkle, the school’s first principal, who recently accepted the position of principal/superintendent of a small district in northern California.

Costanzo came to the Hart District in 1998 as assistant principal of Saugus High School, where he served for six years.

He served as summer school principal at Saugus High School from 1999 to 2003 and at West Ranch this last summer. As assistant principal at West Ranch, he has developed the school’s master schedule each year, coordinated the Every 15 Minutes program to combat teen drunken driving, and supervised a growing special education program.

He started his teaching career in the Glendale Unified School District, where he taught from 1978 to 1981. He then taught at Foothills Junior High School from 1981 to 1994, serving as a resource specialist, mentor teacher, coach and teacher of physical education and teen skills.

He also taught physical education and health at Arcadia High School, where he also coached girls varsity basketball and junior varsity softball. He served as dean of students at Crescenta Valley High School in the 1997-98 school year.

An alumnus of California State University Los Angeles, he holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in health and safety studies.

Costanzo was recognized at the state level as Learning Disabilities Association Educator of the Year in 1990 and went on to be nominated at the national level for the Sam Kirk Educator of the Year Award in 1992.

Costanzo will assume his position on September 6th.