Principals named for 11 new Clark County schools

By Emily Richmond

Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004 | 8:59 a.m.

Even as a rookie teacher in 1977, David Harcourt knew he wanted -- someday -- to be a principal.

He also knew it would be a long wait if he stayed in Muncie, Ind., where new schools -- and openings for administrators -- were rare. So in 1986 he moved to Southern Nevada, where a population boom was beginning its steady, upward tick.

After seven years of teaching in Clark County, Harcourt made the leap into administration, eventually becoming principal of Mountain View Elementary School. And earlier this week Harcourt, in his 19th year with the Clark County School District, was selected to be the first principal of the new Liliam Lujan Hickey Elementary School.

"I can remember when I first got here and everything past Sunset Road was just dirt," Harcourt said. "I've watched dozens of new schools go up, and now I get to open one."

Harcourt joins 10 other principals named to open the 11 new campuses for the 2005-06 academic year. The appointments take effect Jan. 15, 2005, giving principals time to hire staff and set up programs prior to the start of the new school year.

Principals are allowed to take only a few staff members from their current schools with them to their new assignments to ensure existing programs aren't "gutted," said George Ann Rice, associate superintendent of human resources for the district.

The principal reassignments are: