Dave Jackson takes helm at Calabasas High





At 55, Dave Jackson, the newprincipal at Calabasas High School,already has squeezed what seemslike two lifetimes’ worth of workinto one.

After returning to educationfrom a 10-year stint working witha team that ran a multimillion-dollar corporation, Jackson took thehelm as assistant principal atAgoura High School.

Jackson now replaces CalabasasPrincipal J. Guidetti, who recentlywent on “special assignment” at thehigh school.

“Dave and I will jointly define the duties and responsibilities of the special assignment,”Guidetti said, adding that he willhelp Jackson make the transitionfrom assistant principal to principal.

Before working in the privatesector, Jackson performed administrative work at middle and highschools. For five years, Jacksonserved as principal at Royal HighSchool in Simi Valley.

He spent many years as the varsity coach for boys’ and girls’sports (volleyball, baseball, tennis)at John Burrows High School inthe Burbank Unified School District. Jackson also served as assistant principal, senior class advisorand activities advisor at John Burrows

Jackson served as assistant principal at several middle schools inBurbank and San Marino, andtaught accounting at CSUN.

Jackson even umpired collegebasketball as a NCAA official.“They made me quit when I becamethe principal at Royal HighSchool,” he said.

Currently, Jackson is settingnew goals for Calabasas HighSchool.

“It’s a very high-functioningschool with really good kids,”Jackson said. “There seems to bea very good teaching staff, goodsupport staff, and an absolutelywonderful PFC (Parent FacultyClub), which is very supportiveof the school.”

Jackson said that his plan willbe to listen to teachers, studentsand parents. “I will tweak whatever needs to be tweaked,” he said,but added that since the school isso successful, he doesn’t expect tofine-tune many programs.

Nevertheless, Jackson has a vision for Calabasas students. “Inaddition to academic success,” hesaid, “students need to learn lifelessons…kids need to understandand be accountable for their actions.”

Jackson earned his undergraduate degree at CSUN, and amaster’s degree at PepperdineUniversity. Married for 30 years,Jackson and his wife, Karen, havetwo grown sons.

“I’m one of those lucky people,”Jackson said. “I get up every morning and look forward to going towork because I get to do what I loveto do every day.”


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