New principal named for Carmel Valley’s Sage Canyon School

The Del Mar Union School District (DMUSD) has welcomed William “Billy” Cameron to serve as the new principal at Sage Canyon School.

“We’ve hired an exceptional person to lead the wonderful Sage Canyon School,” announced Superintendent Holly McClurg at the board’s July 22 meeting.

Cameron will replace Vivian Firestone, who was principal at Sage Canyon for the past two years. Firestone is still with DMUSD, working in the instructional services department.

According to Jason Romero, associate superintendent of human resources, Cameron comes to Del Mar with 11 years of experience in education in Marin County. He was a third- and fourth-grade teacher and an assistant principal before serving the past three years as principal at Brookside Elementary in the Ross Valley School District.

Romero said that as principal, Cameron oversaw not only a transition to the Common Core State Standards, but the school’s shift from a kindergarten-through-second-grade school to a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade campus.

“He has tremendous charisma, character and brings to us a wealth of knowledge and expertise,” Romero said, and quoted from Cameron’s application, that he aims to “provide a stimulating learning environment that encourages students to trust in their own opinions and realize their full potential.”

Cameron was at the July 22 meeting and will begin the process of moving from Northern California. He said it was his “pleasure and honor” to be a part of the community.

Cameron will begin his work as the principal at Sage Canyon School on Aug. 3, 2015.