Twin Rivers Unified School District announced new principals will take the reigns at both Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy and Norwood Junior High.

Xay Phongmany, a vice principal for 10 years at Rio Tierra Junior High, will be the new principal at Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy.

Phongmany is no stranger to the north area. He graduating from Foothill High School in 1992. He has a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from CSU, Sacramento. Phongmany also taught math for six years at Rio Tierra.

Diedre C. Barlow, vice principal at Norwood Junior High, will be the school’s new principal.

Barlow, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, was a former vice principal at Rio Linda Junior High School (now Rio Linda Preparatory Academy). During her career she has been a math teacher and a volleyball, basketball and softball coach.

Phongmany and Barlow begin their new positions on July 1st.