The search for a new principal began for Rocklin High on August 8 after the confirmation that Mike Garrison had been approved as the new Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at the Rocklin Unified School District. With this change, Garrison is officially departing from RHS and leaving the principal position to whoever the district appoints.

"It hasn’t sunk in [yet] because I’ve still been here. It will really sink in when I’m not here and I’m going over to the district office," said Garrison.

Garrison started his career at Rocklin High in 1994 as a physical education and health teacher. In 1999, he was named Athletic Director and, in the following year, became an assistant principal. The year of 2005 soon rolled around and it was in that year that Garrison became the principal of RHS. Altogether, it’s been 18 years that he’s served and worked at Rocklin High.

"It’s bittersweet," Garrison said, "I’m excited about my new job. I get to do new things, but I’m also leaving a family. It’s going to be hard. Rocklin High has been my life for 18 years… I’m going to miss the kids and I’m going to miss the faculty and staff."

Garrison is thoroughly proud of what the school has become. By walking through the halls and talking to the students and teachers, any stranger could feel the pride and family-like environment that Rocklin High presents and that is one of the most important things to him.

"There was a point in time, a few years back, where that feeling was lost," Garrison points out, "I think over the last six years we’ve really re-established that feel… everybody’s close, everybody’s here for one another, everybody respects each other, and I think that’s the best change this school has had the last 6 years."

There are no adjustments he would make to Rocklin High School.

"Our students here work hard. All the challenges we’ve thrown out to them over the years, they try and take those challenges. That’s what makes a school a great school; you can’t do that unless the kids buy in. They want to be a part of it and they’ve done that. And the work that the staff does is incredible."

Although it is bittersweet that Garrison is leaving, he looks forward to using his leadership skills and knowledge to do bigger and better things within RUSD. He said he is filled with determination and commitment and he knows Rocklin High is supporting him. The memories he holds onto will never fade.

"I remember I did a lip-synch at a rally to Vanilla Ice. I did that when I was a PE teacher and I did another one when I was an assistant principal. Those were a lot of fun. Then, when our basketball team and football team went to state, those were great memories. Not many principals can say they were a part of something like that."