Executive Director Transition

CHSA Names New Leader, Announces Plans for Outgoing Director

The CHSA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Maricle as its new, incoming Executive Director, after a five-month search process. Maricle is coming to CHSA from the California School Board Association where he has served for the past ten years, in several capacities: consulting with school board members across the state and leading special projects internally including staffing the board development and policy platform committees, designing member census and survey efforts, and assisting with association strategic planning efforts. He began his career in 1986, teaching grades 5-8 until 1991. After completing a Master of Arts degree in school leadership from St. Mary's College, he served as a K-8 principal from 1991-2000. In 2001, he joined the Catholic Diocese of Stockton as Assistant Superintendent for twelve elementary schools, two high schools and seven preschools.

CHSA is also pleased to announce that Rick Mockler, outgoing Executive Director, has recently been named Chief Quality Improvement Officer at the National Head Start Association, where he will be leading national efforts to leverage data, evidence and evaluation to strengthen Head Start's effectiveness and close the achievement gap. Mockler has served as CHSA's Executive Director for the past seven years, where he has led expansion of public policy advocacy and launched new initiatives, including family development, early math and data analysis. In his new position with NHSA, he will continue to be based in California.

Maricle is enthusiastic. "My professional life has always been connected to children. Whether it was teaching, school or system administration, or supporting elected board members to more effectively serve their students. Joining CHSA feels right - and I am looking forward to contributing to the great work of the association." Maricle and Mockler will briefly overlap in the latter part of July and early August, with Maricle assuming full-time responsibilities effective Monday, August 15.

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