Message from the Principal

Hawk Nation,

I am honored and excited to serve as your principal for the 2025–2026 school year! As a proud Tulare native, this is truly a homecoming for me. I grew up just miles from where Mission Oak now stands, spending my childhood riding horses and motorcycles through the surrounding fields, never imagining that I would one day return to lead a school in the very community that shaped me.

After graduating from Tulare Union High School, I played collegiate softball while earning my degree from the University of West Georgia. When I returned home, I began coaching and substitute teaching in our district, quickly discovering my passion for education. Over the past 24 years, I have been fortunate to serve as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal—including the incredible experience of opening Accelerated Charter High School and leading it to become one of the most successful alternative education programs in Tulare and Kings counties.

I’m also a proud mom of two; one is a Tulare Western graduate now attending Boise State, and the other is a senior at Tulare Western, finishing his last year alongside his dad, Mike Powell, who serves as the athletic director there. My family’s connection to Tulare runs deep, and I now feel blessed to hold a personal connection to all three high schools in our city.

I look forward to meeting each of you, learning your stories, and working together to continue Mission Oak’s tradition of excellence. I believe in the potential of every student, and I’m committed to ensuring that our Hawks are prepared for college, careers, and life beyond high school.

Let’s make this an unforgettable year together.

With Hawk Pride,

Mrs. Powell

Mrs. Powell
Principal