Superintendent's Weekly Update
October 24, 2025
Dear PUSD Families,
Today I had a chance to attend the Unified Sports soccer tournament, featuring Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and Westview high schools. This event was such an incredible reminder of how sports can bring students together through teamwork and an inclusion of all abilities. Thank you to the staff and students who made this tournament such a success.
This week, we launched a new chapter of our Straight from the Supe series, now in a video podcast format. Our goal in creating this new podcast is to connect with our PUSD community in new and meaningful ways. This format allows us to do just that, offering a fresh opportunity to explore what makes Poway Unified such an incredible district, and to spotlight the people who make it all possible.
In the months ahead, I’ll be talking with more staff, students and families about the topics impacting education today.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes over the weekend to check out our first couple of episodes, available to watch or listen on Spotify and YouTube.
Sincerely,
Ben
Free Parent Workshop: Grief and Loss
PUSD is partnering with Elizabeth Hospice to offer a free Zoom workshop for parents and families across our district. Join us Wednesday, November 12, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. to learn strategies for supporting children through grief and loss. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to connect and learn!
Mesa Verde MS office assistant saves choking student
We'd like to recognize and thank Kathy Wexler, of Mesa Verde Middle School, for her quick thinking and heroic actions to save a student who was choking this week.
Read more about Kathy's life-saving efforts.
California Young Playwrights Contest Winner
Congratulations to Mikaela Lee, of Westview High School, for her winning submission to the California Young Playwrights Contest! Her winning play, Purple & Prejudice, which she wrote while attending Black Mountain Middle School, will have a staged reading as part of the 41st Annual Plays by Young Writers Festival this February.
Support the Dream to STEAM Campaign
The PUSD Foundation recently announced the launch of its annual Dream to STEAM giving campaign, which helps fund Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) opportunities for students across our district. Because Poway Unified receives the lowest per-pupil funding of any unified school district in San Diego County, the Foundation plays a vital role in bridging the gap to provide the experiences our students need to thrive.
Click here to learn more and donate today!