Samuel McClymont brings a decade of leadership to Cal’s administrative table
Assistant Principal Samuel McClymont oversees the Class of 2023, ASB, leadership, and the math department.
Sports and food lovers will love seeing new assistant principal Samuel McClymont on campus this year.
McClymont, a big sports fan and foodie who goes by Mr. Mack, began his career as a social studies teacher, teaching subjects such as US History for more than 10 years. He also taught several grade levels of AVID, a college readiness program, and eventually became a program coordinator.
McClymont then worked as an assistant principal at De Jean Middle School in Richmond (2018-19), Washington Manor Middle School in San Leandro (2019-20), and in Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo (2020-22) before coming to Cal.
“Cal has really established itself as a strong school in terms of what it offers to students,” McClymont said.
As an assistant principal, McClymont oversees the Class of 2023, the Associated Student Body, leadership, and the math department. He works with the leadership advisers Hannah Cheng and Troy Bristol to provide administrative oversight for their plans and activities.
“Mr. Mack values the well-being of students,” Cheng said. “He takes his job very seriously.”
McClymont also works collaboratively with other members of the administration team for major decision making.
“He’s learning his way,” new Principal Demetrius Ball said. “So am I and so is Ms. D [Azine Davoudzadeh] as another new assistant principal.”
One of the aspects McClymont appreciates about Cal is the students. He feels students don’t get enough credit for being the people they are.
“He really cares about students and wants to do a good job so that they have a good experience,” Davoudzadeh said. “He is doing a great job working with our campus monitors and he is really a great presenter and public speaker and is thoughtful.”
McClymont loves the enthusiasm and pride students show toward their school. One of his favorite moments so far at Cal was seeing the passion the students show at football games.
He’s also noticed the adaptability of the senior class regarding the new rules and appreciates it greatly. McClymont said administrators are trying their best to communicate with the community about the rule changes they implemented at the beginning of the year and are working hard to listen to student and parent feedback.
One change McClymont wants to see is for more students to pick up garbage, even if it’s not their own trash, because it pollutes the campus.
“The least people can do is throw away their own trash,” McClymont said.
McClymont was delighted to see Cal’s student ambassadors at Back to School Night last month guiding parents on the campus, and encourages their responsibility and independence.
“We really do see you,” McClymont said. “We really do recognize your greatness, and at the end of the day we really do care about you as an admin team.”
Staff writer Tejas Mahesh contributed to this story.
Some of McClymont’s favorite activities outside of school include cooking and watching sports, particularly the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland A’s, San Jose Sharks, and Chelsea FC.
He recently made a braised short rib with a recipe from Gordon Ramsay and his favorite food is sushi.
Staff writer Tejas Mahesh contributed to this story.
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