Two New Carlsbad Principals

On June 8, 2011, the Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Matthew Steitz, Ed.D., as Principal of (CHS) and of Megan Coelho as Principal of (AOMS). Both positions are effective July 1, 2011.

District Superintendent John A. Roach, Ed.D., states, “We are excited to welcome Matt and Megan to our professional and close-knit team of site administrators. Each of them brings new dimensions to their position, their school and our District. We feel fortunate to be able to attract and retain such highly skilled, world-class staff.”

Dr. Steitz replaces , who was recently appointed CUSD’s Director of Secondary Education. He served as Assistant Principal at San Marcos High School from 2003 until joining Carlsbad Unified. Prior to that, he taught science at El Capitan High School and Murrieta Valley High School.

Before entering the teaching profession, Dr. Steitz, armed with a B.S. in Biology, began his professional career at La Jolla-based Sequanna Therapeutics, Inc., where he was a research scientist in the DNA lab. Dr. Steitz holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. His dissertation focused on campus safety at the high school level.

Dr. Steitz notes, “At San Marcos High, I had a variety of fantastic learning opportunities that will serve me well as Carlsbad High Principal. I was a member of the administration team responsible for splitting and redesigning San Marcos High and creating Mission Hills High.” Saying that he is excited to begin his new duties, Dr. Steitz believes, “As CUSD constructs an additional high school, CHS will experience an opportunity to redesign its culture and curriculum. I look forward to working with the school’s staff, students and families to maintain and expand Lancer pride.”               

Megan Coelho joined CUSD as Assistant Principal at AOMS in October 2010. She has served as Interim Principal at the school since May 2011.

Coelho, who holds a B.S., Multiple Subject Credential, Administrative Services Credential and a Masters of Education in Educational Administration, entered the profession as a middle school teacher. Before joining CUSD, she served at the assistant principal level for five years in the Los Angeles/Hawthorne area. She garnered a strong record of promoting academic achievement, including moving schools out of Program Improvement status.

Coelho says, “I have enjoyed getting to know the staff, students, parents, community and culture at AOMS. I am eager to build upon my leadership capabilities through effective team-building, internal and external communications and a firm commitment to student learning and achievement.”

For more about CUSD, please visit carlsbadusd.k12.ca.us.