TUSD Appoints Rich Montgomery
as Principal of Orchard Hills School

The Tustin Unified School District has appointed Rich Montgomery as principal of Orchard Hills K-8 School. The new state-of-the-art school is scheduled to open this fall.

Montgomery has served as principal of Hicks Canyon Elementary School for the past three-and-a-half years. During his tenure, Hicks Canyon has been recognized for its academic achievements and high test scores, and was selected as a 2008 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education.

Montgomery has been involved in public education for more than 14 years. Prior to coming to TUSD in 2006, he worked in the Westminster School District as an elementary/middle school assistant principal, elementary reading specialist, curriculum resource teacher, and middle school reading and language arts teacher.

Among his accomplishments, Montgomery has served as trainer and consultant in computer technology and time management, and speaker for the West Orange County Professional Development Center.

Montgomery has a bachelor’s degree in child and adolescent development from the California State University, Fullerton, and a master’s degree in educational administration from National University.

Montgomery will remain as principal of Hicks Canyon School until the end of the school year in June.

Orchard Hills School will accommodate approximately 1,200 students in kindergarten through eighth-grade. It will feature high-tech classrooms, media center, multipurpose room, cafeteria, P.E. buildings, gymnasium, basketball courts, a track, and baseball and soccer fields. The 15-acre school site is located at 11555 Culver Drive (north of Portola Parkway) in Irvine.