Calabasas High School names Vincent Jantz principal
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TAKING THE HELM- New Calabasas High School Principal Vincent Jantz came to the field of education from a career in law.

Vincent Jantz, an attorneyturnedteacher, is the new principal of Calabasas High School.

Jantz was named to the school's top post by Dan Stepenosky, Las Virgenes Unified School District assistant superintendent of personnel .

"We are delighted to have Mr. Jantz join the district and look forward to his role on the Las Virgenes Unified School District administrative team," Stepenosky said.

Jantz, 59, got a taste of teaching while practicing law in Southern California. He said he taught his first class in 1976 and for the next 20 years taught college-level law classes parttime while keeping his day job.

But a midlife crisis got Jantz thinking differently about life. "What does it all mean; what's it all about- those things you think about in your mid-40s," Jantz said. "I decided I wanted a second chapter."

The second chapter for Jantz meant giving up law for good and launching a career with the Santa Ana Unified School District. Jantz has taught many grade levels, from sixth grade to graduate school. He left his post as assistant principal of Santa Ana High School for the new job at Calabasas.

He settled on high schoollevel teaching and administration for several reasons. He said high school is somewhat of a "middle ground."

"The materials (students are) looking at are much more difficult and complex," he said. "Yet you still have influence on them. At college, (students are) already beginning to select what they're going to do."

"When it was all said and done, the one thing I decided I wanted to be identified as was teacher," Jantz said regarding his career move into education.

Jantz found his progression into administration equally rewarding. He headed the "Small Learning Community" grant at Santa Ana High School, which allowed a large school to operate in smaller learning sections. Jantz also oversaw the school's guidance department, helping students choose the right courses in the correct sequence.

On curriculum issues, Jantz was responsible for helping English learners navigate their way through school. He focused on raising students' grades and helping them reclaim class credits so they could graduate.

"I constantly had to remind students what their ultimate goal is- to graduate and get past the (California High School Exit Exam)," Jantz said.

At Calabasas, with its high achieving students, Jantz expects to continue on the path of success by finding additional opportunities where students can shine. Specifically, he hopes to move more students into honors and advanced placement courses and find ways to raise SAT scores.

Expectations for Calabasas students are already high, but Jantz believes there's room for improvement. He'd like all students to reach their full potential and carry their success on to fouryear colleges.

Jantz said it's also his job to make sure teachers have the proper tools to work with. Technology upgrades paid for through Measure G- and a city-school partnership to train teachers on the new equipment- will help Jantz and his instructors meet their goals.

Limited space has been an issue at the campus, Jantz said. A new building with 10 new classrooms, restrooms and an elevator will relieve campus congestion, he said.

Asked whether he has an advantage as an attorneyturnedprincipal, Jantz said perhaps.

"Lawyers are the same wherever you go," he said. "I think by analogy."

He said he uses the Socratic method to work out problems and tends to ask many questions to gain the information he needs. "I don't think I cross-examine people. I'm just trying to resolve problems in my own mind."

"I like new situations," he said. "I like being captain of a ship. Right here I can make most of my decisions, and I like that."