Assistant Supt. Hinman to leave Newport-Mesa for new post

Chuck Hinman, assistant superintendent at Newport-Mesa Unified School District for nearly a decade, said Thursday that he is leaving to become superintendent of West Covina Unified School District.

Hinman’s last day is Dec. 30; his new job starts Jan. 1.

“I’m really excited about the challenge, but what a place Newport-Mesa is — this is like Shangri La,” Hinman said Thursday. “It’s really about the people. It’s just a wonderful place to work.”

School board President Martha Fluor called Hinman’s departure a loss.

“Through his continued support, our district has been able to move quicker and students have been able to achieve to their abilities and beyond,” said Fluor, who credited Hinman with building a districtwide “culture of collaboration.”

Fluor called shoring up the Early College High School program one of Hinman’s more significant accomplishments. The program, where students earn college credits while still in high school, was thrown into limbo a few years ago over a question of funding.

Hinman lobbied legislators and cleared up a misunderstanding with one of the partner schools, Coastline Community College, Fluor said.

Today, Fluor explained, student participants earn as many as 40 college credits by attending classes at UCI, Coastline and Orange Coast College while still in high school.

Hinman joined the district in 2006 to oversee education in middle schools, high schools and alternative schools. During his tenure, Academic Performance Index (API) scores rose for seven straight years, according to a district statement.

Hinman also proved instrumental in closing the achievement gap for at-risk students and boosting test scores among this population.

Under his direction, secondary schools saw an increase in advanced placement and international baccalaureate curriculum.

Hinman’s total compensation — which includes the value of salary and benefits — as assistant superintendent was $246,572 in 2013, according to data compiled by the California Policy Center, a Tustin-based, nonpartisan think tank.

Before he joined the district, Hinman spent five years as principal of San Clemente High School. He previously was an assistant principal at El Toro High School in Lake Forest. He holds a doctorate in educational administration from USC.

Hinman takes over for West Covina Superintendent Debra Kaplan, who plans to retire at the end of this month.

“I think he’s a perfect match,” Kaplan said. “His values and beliefs about students and their ability to learn at high levels ... resonate with the district.”

West Covina trustee Steve Cox said the board was swayed by Hinman’s experience with high school education, international baccalaureate programs and professional-learning communities, where parents, teachers and school administrators work together to improve student learning.

The search for Hinman’s replacement will begin after the new year, according to a statement from Newport-Mesa.