West Tisbury school principal Michael Halt will leave the Vineyard at the end of the school year to take a job as a high school principal in California.

Mr. Halt, who has served as principal at the West Tisbury school since 2004, has accepted a job as principal of San Clemente High School in San Clemente, Calif., superintendent of schools James H. Weiss confirmed Thursday.

He said Mr. Halt planned to announce his departure to his staff at the end of the day Thursday.

During his tenure at West Tisbury, Mr. Halt served two active tours of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps reserves; 15 months in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011 and eight months in Iraq from 2006 to 2007.

Mr. Halt’s wife, Laurie Halt, is assistant superintendent of schools. Mr. Weiss said Thursday that he has not formally heard that she will be leaving, but said “one would assume” as much.

Mr. Halt’s teaching career began in California after he had returned from a stint as a Marine in the Gulf War some two decades ago. “The thing I loved about the Marine Corps was working with younger Marines. There’s a greater connection to teaching than anything else,” he told the Gazette in a 2004 interview, just after taking the helm as principal in West Tisbury.

Mr. Halt could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.