Our Principals
Hien Larson, Principal
Hien Larson, Principal
Welcome to Alder Creek Middle School! I know both students and parents are filled with excitement and maybe a little fear facing this new adventure of middle school. We are dedicated to easing the transition from elementary to middle school, and to preparing our students to be successful in high school and beyond.
As principal, I would like to introduce myself. My career as an educator started in the Bay Area teaching kindergarten. My husband and I moved to Truckee in 1998 where we taught in Reno at Sage Ridge School. I was fortunate to acquire a teaching job at North Tahoe Middle School in 1999. The majority of my career has been spent working with middle school students. I have taught nearly every subject, including: theater, math, science, social studies, and English. I love middle schoolers! As an immigrant, a second language learner, a Teacher Who Makes A Difference, a Linda Brown Fellow recipient, and County and Region Middle School Principal of the Year, I am honored to be working with middle school families. My experience as an administrator at Glenshire Elementary, Truckee Elementary, Truckee High, and Alder Creek Middle gives me a vast understanding of the whole child.
I promise to invest in our scholars with my very best thinking and my very best efforts, for they are our most important resource. My decisions will always be under the filter of what is best for all kids. The ACMS teachers, staff, families, and I are committed to our district vision of providing challenging and engaging learning opportunities in order for our students to thrive in college, career, and life. Please feel free to share your ideas and suggestions with us as, together, we create a learning environment that strives for excellence and always puts the needs of our students first.
Andrew Losk, Assistant Principal
I am so excited to welcome you to our Alder Creek Community. I began my educational career in 2012 as a social studies and ELA teacher working in my hometown of Sonoma, CA. I moved to South Lake Tahoe in 2013 to teach at South Tahoe Middle School, where I taught for 8 years and eventually moved into a full time administrative role at South Tahoe High School in 2021. I made the move to TTUSD and Alder Creek Middle School in October of 2022 to join the administrative team here! I hold California Credentials in Social Studies, ELA and Administrative Services. The majority of my time in education has been spent working with middle school students, mainly as a Social Studies teacher, ELA teacher, AVID elective teacher and assistant principal. I have experience working with high school students as a football and baseball coach, and assistant principal. As an educator I am committed to building a school culture that is safe and supportive for all students. I am passionate about fostering positive relationships with students in order to help them navigate this important time in their lives as they prepare for high school. Although middle school can bring some challenges, it is truly an important time for every student to learn new tools and discover their passions before high school. It is my hope that all of our students reflect back on their time at ACMS as a time when they were connected to a community that helped build a lasting foundation of trust, empathy and resilience.
Julia Worster, Assistant Principal
I am delighted to be back at ACMS in the new role as assistant principal. I have been in education for 13 years with most of my experience in middle school. For six years I taught math and science to sixth and seventh graders at ACMS before moving to a support role in the district for the past two years. At the beginning of my career I worked in several different schools in the region, gaining experience with elementary and middle school students. I grew up in the small town of North Fork in Central California and moved to Truckee in 2001 to take advantage of all the amazing recreational activities the area has to offer and fell in love with the community. I have two wonderful children who attend schools in the district and my husband is also an educator. As an educator I am committed to creating a supportive and thriving school community through strong relationships with students and their families. I look forward to meeting and working with you this school year.