By Paulo Hernandez

Town Crier Editorial Intern

For Todd Shimada, becoming principal of Montclaire Elementary School in Los Altos is the pinnacle of a long educational career that has taken him from teacher to an assistant principal.

Shimada became the school’s new principal on Sept. 12. He succeeds Nancy Wood, who took another position.

Shimada, with a degree in elementary education from San Diego State University, worked in the New Haven Unified School District in Union City for about five years. He taught fifth and sixth grade and was an assistant principal at James Logan High School for two years before transferring to the Cupertino Union School District. Prior to his appointment at Montclaire, Shimada was assistant principal at Miller Middle School for two years.

Shimada said the principal’s opening at Montclaire Elementary provided an opportunity to do something he had always wanted to do.

“The opportunity to become a principal, the excellent staff at the school, the wonderful kids and a great community definitely attracted me to the school,” Shimada said.

His goals at the school include establishing good communication, most notably with the parents.

“I want to establish effective communication with parents, the community and the school’s staff,” Shimada said. “I want to find ways to continue to improve the school.”

Shimada’s main responsibilities include running the school’s day-to-day activities. He said he is actively involved with the school’s curriculum and he makes sure that whatever needs to get done, gets done.

But his major goal and responsibility is continuing to provide students with a quality education.