Olympic Heights principal Dave Clark stunned faculty and staff at yesterday’s Professional Development Day faculty meeting when he announced that he will be taking an immediate extended leave of absence, at least through the remainder of the 2018-19 school year, to better support his wife who is dealing with health issues.

Clark has been at the forefront of some remarkable gains at the school since taking the helm in 2011.  OH has either been at the top or near the top of Palm Beach District high schools in many areas of measurable academic gains including state and national test scores and graduation rate.

Clark told the OH faculty and staff that the school district hopes to have his replacement named and at the school by Tuesday, Sept. 4.  South area and district representatives will meet with interested OH faculty and staff members wishing to give input as to what qualities they would like to see in Clark’s replacement at 3:00 today in the school’s media center. A similar meeting for OH parents and community members will be held this evening at 6:30.

Additionally, three OH staff members and two OH parents will sit on the interview committee for potential replacements for Clark. Those interviews are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31.

Clark’s wife, Ann, is on an extended leave of absence from her position as principal at Polo Park Middle School in Wellington.  The entire OH community is keeping the Clark family in its thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time.