Get to Know Torrey Pines New Principal Before Class Starts Next Month

Written by Kyle Lundberg

David Jaffe is celebrating 20 years of education, 18 of which have been with the San Dieguito Union High School District. He started as a history teacher at Diegueno Middle School. He’s spent time at La Costa Canyon High School, Canyon Crest Academy and four years as executive director of curriculum for the district. Then after leaving the district to work as a private school principal, Jaffe is back as the incoming principal at Torrey Pines High School.

Patch asked him a few questions about how he plans to lead Torrey Pines in the coming years.

Patch: Torrey Pines has had one of the highest API scores of any high school in San Diego County and was ranked 25th in the state and one of the top in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. How do you keep that momentum and motivation going in students and teachers?

Jaffe: The school has been around since the early ‘70s, and the culture of excellence is embedded in the school. The challenge we face now is how do we get every student to succeed? How do we reach those kids? The other charge we have is not just getting them to graduate, but to get them to graduate with an interest in something and hopefully a passion for something they can carry on in life.

Patch: TPHS won 13 CIF championships in 2013 alone. How do you balance priorities between sports and academics?

Jaffe: I think that our athletic director and coaches have made a conscious effort to let students know that they’re student athletes. They’re students first, athletes second. The focus is that they not only do well in school, but they represent themselves well in the community. The reality is that goes for any student that attends here; however they represent the school, they need to make sure they demonstrate their best.

Patch: When Canyon Crest opened, it was as a “high school of choice” alternative to TPHS. Is there a bit of a rivalry between the two schools?

Jaffe: I think it’s a friendly one. They do have some cross competition in athletics, but Torrey Pines is in a different league. But I think with any competition, it’s friendly competition.

Patch: How much importance to you place upon parental involvement in students’ education? Canyon Crest relies heavily on involvement from parents. How will you retain that focus on parental involvement at TPHS?

Jaffe: The school is an extension of the family. We can do our best work when the families are involved, when we know how to best support their kids that come on campus. We do that through connection with families. They’re very involved with information nights; they show up because they’re very involved in their children’s lives. The most successful students are those who have parents that are engaged. 

Patch: How will the shift in superintendents affect the 2013-14 school year?

Jaffe: The new superintendent (Rick Schmitt) is an outstanding leader. From my perspective, while he has the entire district’s best interest in mind, he knows Torrey Pines inside and out, because he was a principal here, which will benefit us.

Patch: What about the state push for Common Core?

Jaffe: I think all public schools are looking for ways to incorporate Common Core. Our work this year will be transitioning to Common Core. On the surface it could look daunting, but the Common Core standards are very well aligned and articulated. It makes sense. I did have benefit in the private school environment of incorporating Common Core. I know what the expectation of students is all the way through high school.

Patch: Will TPHS be seeing any of the money from Prop. AA (A voter-approved $449 million district bond)? If so, how do you plan to invest it?

Jaffe: Our district folks have the best handle on that, but I know that by 2018 every part of the Torrey Pines campus will be touched. We’ll be redoing science classrooms, adding a performing arts center, re-vamping our gym and adding an auxiliary gym. The good news for me is I’ve been through a construction of a school before (at Canyon Crest), so I know a lot. Now I actually understand what they’re talking about.

Patch: What vision do you see for TPHS going forward? What issues do you wish to address in the coming years? What goals do you wish to achieve?

Jaffe: I think, again, the impact of Common Core is a big institutional goal. Always a challenge is, how do we make sure each kid succeeds and grows? With a student body of around 2,500, there might be this idea that kids can get lost in that. But I tell my staff, think of every one of those students as a child of your own; how do you want them to improve? I want to emphasize, it’s about having students develop academically but also finding an interest in something or a passion for something. In science, on the athletic field, in the performing arts, or wherever they find themselves. That’s what I hope here, that every kid who graduates has been inspired in some way. It’s lofty, but that’s what we should be doing.

Patch: What led you to a career in education? Was there a moment when you knew you wanted to be an educator?

David Jaffe: I graduated from UCLA with a degree in psychology. I always wanted to work with kids in some ways. I originally wanted to be an attorney. I worked at a group home for abused kids, and I soon realized I wanted to work in an environment where I had more of an impact to shape them. From there I got my teaching credential and loved it. For me, it was life’s momentum. I started with something that led to something else. Sometimes it’s moving you up, and sometimes you’re down a little bit, but you’re always moving forward.

Patch: As a principal, how would you describe your style of leadership?

Jaffe: I’d say my style of leadership is through relationship building and collaboration.

Patch: What do you like to do in your free time?

Jaffe: I have two little kids, 9 and 6 year old girls. A lot of my free time is being daddy. On top of that, I’m a golfer. I do a lot of running and triathlon stuff. I like to say I’m mediocre at every sport, not great at any one sport.

Patch: If you weren’t a high school principal, what else would you like to do for a job?

Jaffe: Well, professional baseball player is out. That’s what I wanted to do when I was 10. I’d probably be in finance of some kind. I actually started college in math/computer science. But it would have to be a job where I was with the public in some form. I don’t have much of an attention span.

Patch: Anything else you’d like to add?

Jaffe: I think the one thing I would add is that I am absolutely ecstatic to come back to the district and be principal at Torrey Pines. I’ve always appreciated this school district, but going away from it has made me really appreciate it more.

Torrey Pines High School starts classes on Tuesday, August 27.