Oak Park High principal retiring
By John Loesing newstip@theacorn.com

Lynn McCormack

Lynn McCormack, principal at Oak Park High School, has announced she will be retiring at the end of the school year.

McCormack came to Oak Park in 2004. She had been the principal at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach since 1997.

McCormack, who replaced Cliff Moore at the Oak Park helm, said she plans to remain at her home in Calabasas and seek other professional opportunities, possibly outside of the education field. Mostly, she says, she just wants to enjoy life.

"I need to take time to pursue other experiences while I still have great health and lots of energy," said McCormack, who told the school district she would remain at the high school until a leadership transition is complete.

"I will learn to relax a little," said McCormack, who also maintains a home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

A search for a new principal is underway, school officials said.

"I will not leave Oak Park High School until 'all is said and done' and it is ready to be turned over to a new principal," she said.

McCormack was seen as a champion of the high school's visual and performing arts program, which has grown to include a dance class, a guitar class, a choral and drama program and a strong band and art program. She also worked to expand the OPHS elective program, which now includes classes such as Chinese and American Sign Language.

Over the past four years McCormack also helped with the school's physical education department to expand athletics. During her tenure a successful lacrosse team was added.

"I am personally going to miss Lynn tremendously," said Tony Knight, Oak Park superintendent. "I have learned much from her, and I consider it a privilege to have worked with her these past four years and to call her a friend."

McCormack was instrumental in restructuring the school's special education program and helped nurture the Character Counts Student recognition program and another program called Zangle that allows parents and students easy access to grades and attendance.

McCormack also helped oversee the Oak Park High Safe Schools Ambassadors program to discourage campus bullying.

"She has accomplished a great deal at OPHS and has contributed to its continued excellence as one of the highest achieving high schools in California," Knight said.