Thousand Oaks resident Dr. Mike McDonnell was recently appointed as executive director and head of school for Montclair College Prep, a nondenominational private institution for grades six to 12 in Van Nuys.

McDonnell replaces the late Dr. Vernon Simpson, headmaster, who also founded the school in 1956.

McDonnell earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a doctorate in education from UCLA. He taught in the classroom for 18 years and served as vice principal, faculty dean and assistant director for Montclair.

The school has a student body between 450 and 500, and more than 98 percent of its graduates go on to major four-year colleges.

Montclair will host an open house from 10 a.m. to noon Sat., March 8.