Howard Bennett was appointed principal of Whittell High School on July 13 by the Douglas County School District.

He has spent the past three years as vice principal of Carson Valley Middle School in Gardnerville. Prior to working in administration, Bennett taught social studies at Whittell High School for 24 years.

Recently, he has been involved designing the strategic plan curriculum for Douglas County School District, a program geared toward teaching students the skills they need to pass the Nevada Proficiency Test. The test will be a requirement for high school graduation beginning 2002.

Bennett has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in education and administration. He has also spent the majority of his career at Whittell High School.

Although Whittell is small, with approximately 260 students, Bennett will be the only administrator.

“It’s quite a challenge,” Bennett said. He intends to build a team relationship between teachers, parents and to get the community more involved in the education of the students. His main goal is “(to have) Whittell High School functioning as one of the finest small high schools on the West Coast,” he said.

“We’re extremely pleased to have him. He cares deeply about Whittell and wants it to be the best it can be,” said Pendery Clark, superintendent of Douglas County School District.