(January 26, 2009) — On Jan. 12, Supt. Michael Escalante announced that he will resign at the end of this school year. According to his announcement, he wanted to spend more time with his two sons after his 13-year leadership of Glendale Unified and Fullerton Joint Union High School Districts. Escalante was hired in 2004 to be the superintendent for GUSD. “I was surprised,” said Barbara Melone, Clark’s senior administrative secretary. “I’m very pleased for him; it was a big decision; but I’m pleased for him.” Supt. Michael Escalante has worked in public education for 37 years and wants to spend more time with his family, according to the Glendale News-Press . “I’m happy that he’s retiring,” said sophomore Bellen Avelar. “He deserves to spend more time with his boys.” Escalante said that the mission and focus of GUSD is student achievement and he has done so by the improving test scores, according to the GUSD website. After four years of being part of GUSD, it seems that Escalante feels that it’s his time to go. “It’s not so much of an age thing for retirement but it’s more of where you’re at with your life,” Melone said. “Family time is important, too.”