Colony Oak Elementary School has a new principal.

Cheryl Griffiths was hired Monday during a special session of the Ripon Unified school board to take over the post previously held by newly hired Superintendent Siegrid “Ziggy” Robeson.

Griffiths was the principal / superintendent of Knights Ferry Elementary School District in Stanislaus County.

She comes from school that for the past seven years has been above the API state target of 800, scored second in Math in the region, and ninth in Language Arts in the region.

While at Knights Ferry, Griffiths was also part of the academic leadership to successfully help with the transition to Common Core. The facilities there were also well maintained.

She’ll be part of transition at Colony Oak when the campus closes for modernization under the voter-approved Measure G.

“(Construction) probably won’t take place until after next year,” said Robeson, who will officially replace the retiring Bill Draa – he was lured out of retirement from Banta School District about two years ago to help RUSD in its time of need – until at the end of this month.

Robeson was hired a year ago as principal at Colony Oak. She’s now making the transition to RUSD’s top administrative post.

Griffiths’ selection was announced by board President Ernie Tyhurst after the closed session.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, email vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3537.