(San Diego, CA) – Each of these highly regarded professionals will ensure students, staff, and school communities are fully supported to empower world-class learners at the district and site level. The PUSD Board of Education voted to appoint the following administrators at the April 6, May 11, and June 1, 2023 meetings:
- Shelley Petersen – Associate Superintendent, Learning Support Services (approved May 11)
- Julie Lerner – Executive Director II, Learning Support Services (approved May 11)
- Ty Eveleth – Principal of Del Norte High School (approved May 11)
- Monique de Brito Guedes – Director II, Equity & Improvement (approved May 11)
- Stacey McCrath-Smith – Director II, Special Education (approved April 6)
- Christine Carrera – Director, Preschool & Before/After School Programs (approved May 11)
- Katie Masterson Lynn – Principal, Willow Grove Elementary School (approved May 11)
- Melissa Barry – Principal, Highland Ranch Elementary School (approved May 11)
- Erica Edmonston – Principal, Canyon View Elementary School (approved May 11)
- Katie Bendix – Principal, Deer Canyon Elementary School (approved May 11)
- Julie Goldberg – Principal, Pomerado Elementary School (approved June 1)
- Bryan Schultz – Principal, Painted Rock Elementary School (new site assignment)
- Terry Worthington – Principal, Creekside Elementary School (new site assignment)
Shelley Petersen: Associate Superintendent, Learning Support Services
Shelley Petersen comes to PUSD with more than 30 years of leadership experience in education, most recently having served 11 years as the Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Services in Del Mar Union School District. Ms. Petersen describes herself as a “collaborative, resolute leader who develops system-wide efficacy leading to extraordinary results and powerful, lasting impact.” Ms. Petersen is passionate about ensuring every student has equitable access to a high-quality education, is inspired to learn, and achieves at high levels. She also served as Principal, Assistant Principal, and Teacher in the Del Mar Union and Vista Unified School Districts.
Julie Lerner: Executive Director II, Learning Support Services
Julie Lerner currently serves as Principal of Carmel Del Mar School, which was awarded both the California Distinguished School Award and National Blue Ribbon School Award under her leadership. Ms. Lerner is an experienced and respected school administrator, with over 16 years of experience as a Principal and Assistant Principal, including six years as the proud Principal of PUSD’s Midland Elementary School. Ms. Lerner is excited to return to #TeamPUSD and deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, professional learning, strong and productive school partnerships, as well as innovative teaching and learning.
Ty Eveleth: Principal, Del Norte High School
Mr. Eveleth is no stranger to Del Norte High School, currently serving as an Assistant Principal overseeing multiple academic and elective departments for the past three years as well as School Counselor developing college, career, and life readiness programs for the six years prior. He is an experienced and respected administrator in PUSD and the larger San Diego community, with 19 years of experience spanning San Diego Unified and Poway Unified School Districts. Most importantly, he has a deep passion and love of serving students, staff, and community. He truly understands what it means to be “Distinctively Del Norte.”
Monique de Brito Guedes: Director II, Equity & Improvement
Monique de Brito Guedes comes to PUSD from the San Mateo Union High School District where she has been serving as an Assistant Principal for six years, specializing in Instructional Leadership and Student Services (including Family Engagement, Restorative Practices, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support). Prior to that, she was a Professional Development Coordinator, Educational Coach, and Teacher for the Berkeley Unified School District for eight years, where she created and led professional development around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Stacey McCrath-Smith: Director II, Special Education
For the past ten years, Dr. Stacey McCrath-Smith has served as the Director of Secondary Special Services in the Lake Washington School District near Seattle, Washington. Prior to that she served as Director of Special Education and Principal in Seattle Public Schools. She brings a wealth of knowledge of special services, special education, and serving students with disabilities and their families. She started her educational career as an elementary teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and is excited to be returning to California.
Christine Carrera: Director, Preschool and Before/After School Programs
Christine Carrera has served as PUSD’s Assistant Director of Preschool and Before/After School Programs since 2020. For the past three years, she has planned and coordinated district-wide staff development, budget management, and compliance for PUSD’s Preschool and Before/After School programs. Prior to coming to PUSD she was the After School Education and Safety Project Specialist for the San Diego County Office of Education for five years. She is passionate about creating thriving systems to better support all children in a nurturing educational experience.
Katie Masterson: Principal, Willow Grove Elementary School
Katie Masterson brings several years of experience as an elementary level administrator in both the Culver City Unified School District and the Wiseburn Unified School District, most recently as Principal of Farragut Elementary since 2021. She also spent 9 years in the classroom with experience in second, fourth, and fifth grades at a STEAM elementary school. She has a strong passion for curriculum and teacher professional development as well as creating positive and inclusive learning environments where all students thrive.
Melissa Barry: Principal, Highland Ranch Elementary School
With over 20 years of experience in the field of education, Melissa Barry brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Highland Ranch. She is currently serving as the assistant principal at Aviara Oaks Middle School in Carlsbad, and previously worked as an administrator at a K-12 school in Vista. Additionally, she served as an instructional coach for Carlsbad Unified School District and delivered professional development presentations in districts across the United States. She believes fostering strong instructional practices and creating a safe, engaging learning environment are the cornerstones of a successful classroom.
Erica Edmonston: Principal, Canyon View Elementary School
For over 25 years, Erica Edmonston has dedicated herself to transforming students’ lives through education. For the past four years, she has served as the Principal of Barnett Elementary School in Ramona. Prior to that, she served three years as the Vice Principal of Rio Seco, a K-8 school in Santee. Her experience also includes one year as an instructional coach for teachers in the area of curriculum and instruction and 17 years of classroom teaching in elementary and middle school grades. She prides herself on a collaborative and approachable leadership style and values ongoing two-way communication to build trusting partnerships.
Katie Bendix: Principal, Deer Canyon Elementary School
Katie Bendix has served as an Assistant Principal in the San Dieguito Union High School District for the past seven years, after spending many years as a middle and high school math teacher in San Diego, Escondido, and Cincinnati, Ohio, nurturing positive learning experiences for students of all ages. Her focus has been on educating the whole child and developing socially conscious contributors to our communities. She is committed to leading with kindness, through servant leadership and dedicated to creating safe and innovative spaces for students and staff, where curiosity can spark, fuel, and sustain a love of learning.
Julie Goldberg: Principal, Pomerado Elementary School
Julie Goldberg brings a unique breadth of knowledge and experience to serve the Pomerado community. During her career in education, she has worked as an Instructional Aide, Special Education Teacher, Instructional Specialist, and District Administrator. As a classroom educator, she served students with disabilities at the elementary, middle, and high school level. Most recently, she served as the Director of Assessment and Accountability in the San Dieguito Union High School District, where she had the privilege of leading many district-wide initiatives, including leading the District’s Title I Schoolwide Programs.
Bryan Schultz: Principal, Painted Rock Elementary School
Bryan Schultz has a unique perspective from serving as a site principal at the elementary, middle, and high school level throughout his career in education. He has been an educator since 1997 and started his career as a high school social teacher and coach. He worked 17 years as a teacher and assistant principal in the Sweetwater Union High School District. In 2014 he transitioned and served as Principal of Fuerte Elementary School and then at Montgomery Middle School in El Cajon. In 2018, he became Principal at Del Norte High School in PUSD, and he looks forward to now serving and leading the Painted Rock Community for years to come.
Terry Worthington: Principal, Creekside Elementary School
Terry Worthington has been part of the Poway Unified School District for more than 20 years and has an extensive background in both elementary and special education. She has spent the past 15 years as the principal of Deer Canyon Elementary School, and is excited and honored to be joining the Creekside team. She is a firm believer that all students should have access to a kind and caring community where they feel safe, included, and empowered to achieve.
Assistant Principal Assignments:
Sara Ramirez is joining Abraxas High School
Matt Hunt is joining Mt. Carmel High School
Julio Lopez is joining Meadowbrook Middle School
Amie Tillman is joining Mesa Verde Middle School
Bill Egan is joining Design39Campus
Stephanie Weekes is joining Park Village Elementary School
Valerie White is joining Del Norte High School
Anthony Bradley is joining Rancho Bernardo High School
Naomi Shank is joining Black Mountain Middle School
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