Horizon Charter School hires new superintendent

After conducting a nationwide search, the Horizon Charter Schools Board of Education announced Monday that Dr. John Garrard is the school's new superintendent/CEO. Founded in 1993, Horizon Charter Schools (HCS) specializes in Independent Study and has students from Placer, Sacramento, Nevada, Sutter, Yuba and El Dorado counties. The district office is in Lincoln. Garrard has more than 22 years of experience in elementary, middle and high school education, according to a Horizon press release. He was recently the Visions in Education Charter Schools" Chief Academic Officer and before that, admissions director, family services director, kindergarten-to-8th grade principal and high school assistant principal.. "We are excited to bring a strong and proven leader to our school district. After our extensive search and interview process with very strong competitors, we found John," Horizon Charter School Board President Joe Dutra said. "... His sincere desire to listen to all viewpoints and his relationships with parents and community are excellent. He is known for valuing the true purpose of alternative forms of teaching and learning as well as his high level of integrity and collaboration." Garrard and his wife Christine, a homeschool teacher, have been married for more than 20 years and are the parents of twin boys, Christian and Charley, 20, and daughter, Maren, 18.