New principals, Maple Lai and Ben Campopiano, will greet students on the first day of the 2021/22 school year at Del Rey Elementary and Miramonte High Schools respectively. Miramonte opens its doors to students Aug. 10 and Orinda Union School District campuses begin Aug. 11.
As a former fourth-grade teacher at Wagner Ranch Elementary and associate principal at Orinda Intermediate School, Lai brings 15 years of experience in public education to the position. She earned a bachelor’s degree at UC Davis and a master’s degree at California State University East Bay. In 2016, she was selected as the District’s Teacher on Special Assignment in mathematics.
Most recently, Campopiano was a principal in the Mount Diablo Unified School District. He taught social studies, coached, served as an athletic director and instructional coach and was a vice principal at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Saint Mary’s College and a master’s degree at California State University East Bay.
Julie Parks, who served as Miramonte’s principal since 2014, is transitioning to the Moraga School District as superintendent.