This article is part of the Tri-City News' Back to School series this and next month.
At the end of the last academic year, Heritage Woods Secondary’s principal slipped off his custom Nikes — bearing the Port Moody school’s name — and gifted the size 10 runners to a top student at the athletic banquet.
Todd Clerkson then had another pair made this summer with the name of the new school he’ll be overseeing starting Sept. 3: Riverside Secondary.
In truth, though, the Port Coquitlam high school is not new for Clerkson.
The Coquitlam resident was a vice principal at Riverside for four years and, over the past 20 years in School District 43’s administration, has served as principal for nine years at Heritage Woods, four years as principal at Pitt River Middle in Port Coquitlam, three years as vice principal at Maillard Middle in Coquitlam and a year as vice principal at Port Moody Secondary.
So, he told the Tri-City News on Wednesday, Aug. 28, returning to Riverside “is just like coming back home."
"It’s been really nice," said Clerkson, who replaces Jon Bruneau, retiring this past June.
Clerkson was the third principal at Heritage Woods and responsible in part for making the Kodiaks shine in academics, the fine arts, athletics and around the community.
At Riverside, the home of the Rapids, Clerkson sees similar excellence in and out of the class, albeit with different socio-economic demographics.
He points to the girls’ volleyball and basketball teams as strong points, as well as its French Immersion and the performing arts/theatre programs.
Like at Heritage Woods, Clerkson plans to be present for the students at Riverside as they learn, play school sports and be part of outreach fun.
“I get involved with the students with their extra-curricular activities,” said the soccer and field lacrosse coach whose children graduated from Terry Fox Secondary, PoCo’s northside high school.
“I want the kids to know that they can come see me anytime. I’m approachable and I want them to get comfortable with me being around. That’s the fun part of the job.”
The downside of the job, he said, involves situations outside of his control.
Clerkson is aware the new provincial government mandate about cellphone use during high school class time will be challenging when school returns; however, he feels the policy is flexible enough for the school to ease into.
As for Riverside’s three vice principals, Jill Della Vedova, Tanya Dissengna and Dave Jones, and the teachers, Clerkson said he’s familiar with them.
“I already know a lot of the great staff here, so I feel like it’s going to be a great year. My job is to come in and make the school experience the best for the students to learn and play in, and the best for the employees to work in.”
Tomorrow, the Tri-City News will feature the new principal at Centennial Secondary in Coquitlam: Manjit Rai, the high school’s former vice principal.
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