After spending nearly eight years on staff at Escalon High School as a teacher, Stephanie (DeFreitas) Parker has returned … but this time she has her own office and a new title.

The former AP World History, History and Current Events teacher left Escalon for a year as principal at Waterloo Middle School in the Linden Unified School District. As of this August, however, she is on the job as the Assistant Principal for Escalon High School.

She earned her credential through CSU Stanislaus and said she obtained that in May of 2013. Her first administrative post was with the Linden district, but Parker said she is happy to be at EHS.

“It feels like I’ve come home,” she admitted. “It’s amazing, I love it, I am happy to come to work every day.

“It’s difficult in that sometimes I really miss teaching but I’m so busy and learning something new every day.”

As assistant principal, she handles most of the disciplinary tasks as well as working with the Associated Student Body officers on campus events such as Homecoming and rallies. She also serves as the assistant principal for Vista High and goes to that site every day, working with the 45 students there.

“The kids have been great,” Parker said, noting that they have helped make her transition from teacher to administrator a smooth one.

“They still think it’s funny seeing me drive around on the (golf) cart,” she said of students adjusting to her utilizing the administrative form of transportation around campus.

Having an established rapport with the students, Parker said, is also beneficial, as she is not an ‘unknown quantity’ for them to deal with on a daily basis.

“I’m very excited, I just feel like we have a good team here right now and we have had a real positive start to the year,” Parker said.

Escalon High School also recently received a full six-year accreditation from WASC, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, so she said not having to focus on prepping for a WASC team visit anytime soon will help keep her available to address other needs at the high school.

“I’m coming in a high note,” she said of the six-year accreditation.