CARLSBAD UNIFIED CONNECTIONS

With the new school year Carlsbad Unified is fortunate to welcome a strong new team of administrators to our school sites.

Tessa Riley is the new principal at Jefferson Elementary School, after eleven years at Orange Glen High School and Del Lago Academy in Escondido Unified High School District. Before that she was an elementary and middle school counselor in Boston. “Everyone has been amazing, welcoming, and helping me learn,” said Ms. Riley. “I’m excited to be back in elementary school. I hope to create supportive conditions so teachers can focus their attention on students.”

Jesse Mindlin, Aviara Oaks Middle School Principal, served for the last four years as Assistant Principal at San Marcos High School. Previously, he had worked for the San Dieguito Union High School District at Torrey Pines High School, Oak Crest Middle School, and at the SDUHSD district office. Special Education is one of his areas of expertise. He is looking forward to partnering with the school community to build relationships and trust.

Mr. Mindlin is joined by Charles Threatt, AOMS’s new Assistant Principal, who recently served at Carlsbad High School.

The new principal at Buena Vista Elementary School is Kimberly Guillen. With 28 years of experience in education, and 25 years with Carlsbad Unified—as a classroom teacher, an Elementary Instructional Specialist, and an Interim Assistant Principal—Ms. Guillen spearheaded curriculum adoptions, led early literacy programs, and supported a variety of district initiatives.

Recently retired CUSD principal Robert Devich is the Acting Principal at Calavera Hills Elementary School, getting the school year off to a successful start.

Leandro Galaz is a new Assistant Principal at Sage Creek High School. He arrives from the Poway Unified School District, where he was Assistant Principal at Black Mountain Middle School. He also worked as a school counselor at San Marcos High School, and was a full-time faculty lecturer at California State University San Marcos. Earlier in his career, he was a social worker with the San Diego Regional Center.

Marissa Rall, welcomed as the new Assistant Principal at Calavera Hills Middle School, brings six years of successful middle school leadership experience as an assistant principal in the Escondido Union School District. She also was a District Literacy Teacher on Special Assignment, and taught seventh-grade English Language Arts. She coached teachers and supported the implementation of effective instructional and intervention practices across multiple middle schools.

Valley Middle School’s new Assistant Principal is Marisa Leong, who previously served successfully as Calavera Hills Middle School’s Assistant Principal.

Carlsbad High School is pleased to welcome two new Assistant Principals. Charity Fisher came to CUSD from Poway Unified, where she provided instructional leadership as Assistant Principal at Mt. Carmel High School. She had previously served as Interim Assistant Principal at Carlsbad High School and taught U.S. and AP Government at Sage Creek High School. Throughout her career she has focused on expanding access and inclusion for students with disabilities, and supporting effective instructional practices.

Ethan Segovia brings 20 years of experience in education, including nine years in school leadership. Most recently, he served as a Program Mentor in the School of Education at Western Governors University, where he coached and guided teacher candidates and educators pursuing their master's degrees. He also served as Associate Dean of Students at California State University San Marcos, and held positions as Principal, Assistant Principal, and teacher at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad for 16 years.

"I am very excited to begin the school year with a full administrative team!” said Carlsbad High School principal Julie Redfield. “Our assistant principals bring a wealth of experience, unique strengths, and a shared commitment to putting students at the center of everything we do.

“Together, our team has a vision of providing our Lancers with an extraordinary educational experience, fostering a positive school culture where students and staff feel a strong sense of belonging and pride, and preparing every student for success both during high school and in life beyond graduation.

“I am grateful to have such a dedicated and student-centered team supporting our Lancer community. I look forward to the great things we will accomplish together this year!"

Carlsbad Unified appreciates the leadership, expertise, and dedication that all of these team members bring to our school communities. Please join us as we welcome these accomplished new administrators to our district.

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Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.net
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000