Dear La Salle Community,

Earlier this month, I informed our school community that Principal Jamal Adams was selected as the next principal of Loyola High School in Los Angeles for the 2023-2024 school year. Before this announcement, I had been in close contact with our school search firm, Educational Directions, in assessing the current landscape for a strong principal search.

After consulting with Educational Directions and our La Salle Board of Trustees, La Salle will begin an extensive national search for our next school principal throughout the 2023-2024 school year. Utilizing the upcoming school year will allow our school the time it needs for a strong and thorough nationwide search in alignment with our strategic plan, which calls for the recruitment and retention of highly-qualified and mission-aligned faculty, staff, and administrators.

While our search will be ongoing, I am acutely aware of the need to continue moving our school forward and executing the other goals and objectives outlined in our strategic plan. As a result of our plans for a year-long principal search process, an interim principal will serve La Salle throughout the 2023-2024 school year.

Over the last several weeks, I invited all internal full-time and qualified candidates to apply for the interim principal position and have had the opportunity to interview all candidates who have expressed interest in serving La Salle in this role. In compliance with our school governance under the president-principal leadership model and in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that Mr. Ernest Siy, our current dean of students, has been selected to serve as La Salle’s Interim Principal for the upcoming school year.

Mr. Siy has extensive school administration and management experience, having last served as dean of students at Providence High School for over seven years. He oversaw the school’s athletic department, student life operations, and school culture and student discipline. Before this role, he also served as athletic director and teacher at Holy Family High School and St. Genevieve High School, respectively, managing a robust coaching and leadership team. Mr. Siy earned a bachelor of arts degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University and a master of arts degree in education from Loyola Marymount University. Mr. Siy’s extensive school leadership experience, management accountability, strong Catholic faith, and passion for student excellence and learning will provide La Salle College Preparatory with steady, professional academic leadership during this transition and growth for our school. Over the next few months, Mr. Siy will continue serving in his current role while working closely with Principal Adams to ensure a seamless leadership transition. As we form the contours of our principal search, I am committed to keeping you apprised and informed about this important process.

In addition to the appointment of Mr. Siy as Interim Principal, we have also asked Mr. Scott Wiard to serve as Interim Dean of Students for the upcoming school year. Mr. Wiard currently serves as a teacher and will continue to serve as head coach of our Girl's Varsity Basketball team. He will also report directly to Interim Principal Siy. Both Mr. Siy and Mr. Wiard’s interim positions will begin in June 2023.

I’d like to take this opportunity to both thank and assure our entire Lasallian community of our desired outcome of finding a Principal candidate who will produce both the leadership quality we desire and the served longevity that is needed.

In this time of transition, I am excited about the many new, outstanding opportunities available to our students as we look toward the future. Our faculty, staff, and administration are committed to ensuring that your children continue to have the most robust, holistic, and engaging learning experience possible in the spirit of our founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. Please know that I am grateful for your continued support and sincerely appreciate your partnership in educating your children entrusted to our care.

Sincerely,

Perry K. Martin, M.Ed.
School President