On Tuesday, at 2 p.m. Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District Supt. McCowan has been superintendent for eight years and before that he was the longtime Valley Center High School principal. He was a member of the first team of educators who were part of the opening of the high school. In 1997, I was given the opportunity to join the team that opened Valley Center High School as an assistant principal and ASB director. The strength, compassion, and unity of Valley Center–Pauma have made this work not just a career but a true calling.