Bremerton’s Renaissance High principal moves on to Washington Youth Academy

Renaissance High School Principal Lynn Caddell is leaving his position at the alternative school this month to head-up the Washington Youth Academy full time. Bremerton

Renaissance High School Principal Lynn Caddell is leaving his position at the alternative school this month to head-up the Washington Youth Academy full time.

Caddell spent the past school year splitting his time between Renaissance and acting as the planning principal of the Bremerton residential school for at-risk teens. The youth academy is a division of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program and is the first publicly-funded residential program in the state, just finishing its first class.

“I just always have been attracted to places that do things differently,” Caddell said of his decision to lead the military-style youth academy.

The Washington Youth Academy’s next class of 150 students will arrive in July.

Caddell’s last day at Renaissance will be later this month, he said, adding that he has mixed emotions about leaving the small school where he grew close with students and faculty during his four-year tenure.

“The personal relationships are very strong,” he said. “Leaving that is very difficult.”

Renaissance High School graduated its largest senior class of about 40 students Wednesday – almost double the graduating class last year.

“Lynn has really done a tremendous amount to build up the program,” Bremerton Superintendent Lester “Flip” Herndon said Tuesday. “Lynn has done much in not only the academics but supporting the many areas of students’ lives.”

The final two candidates to replace Caddell were interviewed this week, Herdon said. The Bremerton School District expects to announce its selection next week.

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