This year C.K. McClatchy hired new assistant principal (AP) Mr. Zarate. Mr. Zarate was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. There he went to George Washington High School, and competed on their soccer team.
After high school Zarate decided to come to Sacramento, and started attending Cosumnes River College. From there he transferred to Sacramento State with a soccer scholarship and an intended major of criminal justice. Zarate said that he liked college and that it was a very new experience for him, “My favorite part was the diversity and the different people. Coming to college stretched me mentally… (it was) great to meet people from different backgrounds, a whole nother experience for me and helped me grow as a person.”
At the time he wanted to be a probation officer, and ended up working at the Sacramento county probation department and juvenile hall. He worked there for three and a half years before deciding that he wanted a change.
Zarate then attended National University, a private university in San Diego. There Zarate earned a Masters in educational counseling, and a PPS credential (Pupil Personnel Services credential) in educational counseling.
Zarate first got his start in SCUSD through the credential program that was required to complete his PPS, “In the credential program there is a need to finish internship hours. I got an internship at Sam Brennen [elementary] school, and I actually took a risk and left my job and went to work at Sam Brennen as a per diem. I did that counseling job for six months and at the end of the six months I ended up securing a job working with at-risk youth.”
After working at Sam Brennen, Assistant Principal Zarate got the job offer to work at California middle school as Vice Principal. After six years at Cal middle, along with the opening at McClatchy, Zarate adds that the move from VP at Cal middle to AP at McClatchy was only natural, “Next thing you know there’s an opening and so it was kind of natural…a change of scenery and new challenges, an opportunity to learn…”
Assistant Principal Zarate is ready to get hands on with the school. He adds that he is actually going to school every day, getting to know the campus and the staff members.
When asked what he was most looking forward to when school reopens, he said, “I’m looking forward to learning what makes CKM so special… I want to dedicate myself to keep it the best school and improve CKM. Not to mention all the great sports at McClatchy, I’m a sports fanatic and I love school spirit. I want to experience the ROAR.”
Outside of school Zarate likes to lay low, and spend time with his family: “My enjoyment is my two kids and my wife. I kind of like just to hang out. I don’t like to be too busy. TV mainly consists of sports so Sundays are a good day for me especially when my Broncos are winning.