A few weeks back, we posted an update about IUSD’s newest principals, as well as some familiar faces taking on new roles. Well, here’s one more from the latter category. It’s been announced that Irvine High School’s Mark Miller will take the reins as IUSD’s director of alternative education and principal at Creekside High School beginning later this month. Miller succeeds the retiring Paul Mills, who worked in IUSD for 36 years – including nearly a quarter-century as this district’s outstanding alternative ed director. In a fitting tribute, Mills earned Administrator of the Year honors in 2010 from the Association of California School Administrators. Miller has an impressive résumé of his own. Following eight years as a special education teacher at San Clemente and La Costa Canyon high schools, he helped open San Juan Hills High School, serving as athletic director and assistant principal. In 2008, he joined IUSD as Irvine High’s assistant principal. “Mark is a perfect match as director of alternative education, and our team is very fortunate to have a leader of his caliber in this important role,” said IUSD Superintendent Gwen Gross. “His unique administrative and instructional leadership experiences – including opening a new high school and developing and implementing core curriculum for special needs students – and his appreciation for Creekside’s students and programs will be tremendous assets to the Creekside Education Center community.”