Vince Riccobene, who held a number of administrator positions in the Sequim School District, is leaving to become the new principal of Lynden Middle School.

“Our family is just absolutely thrilled to be part of the Lynden community,” Riccobene said in a news release from the Lynden School District posted May 12.

“For me, I can’t wait to start to connect with students, staff and families.”

Riccobene, principal of Olympic Peninsula Academy and Dungeness Virtual School, began his career as an educator in the Tumwater School District where he taught a variety of grade levels. He was a sixth grade teacher and had received his administrative internship when he was hired by the Sequim School District in 2003.

From 2003-2010, Riccobene served as principal of Helen Haller Elementary School. In 2011 he was named the district’s Director of Instruction; that position was changed to executive director of Teaching and Learning.

Riccobene worked as Sequim Middle School principal from 2014-2019.

“I have always believed that the middle school age is an opportunity to have the greatest impact on students and their hopes and dreams for the future,” Riccobene said in the press release.

“I personally believe you can increase the opportunity of kids graduating with the interventions and support you create at the middle level.”

Riccobene succeeds Molly Mitchell-Mumma, who has taken a position within Lynden Schools as the new director of human resources and academic services.

Riccobene will move to Lynden with his wife, Dena, a long-time elementary educator, and their daughter Gianna, now a freshman in high school. The couple also has two sons, one living in Olympia and the other graduating from high school this spring.