La Jolla school principals reflect on past year and look ahead to 2025
Togetherness, personal growth and community building are three key targets principals have identified for the new year
SAN DIEGO - With La Jolla public school students nearing the end of their winter break, faculty and other staff members are preparing for the spring and, down the road, a new academic year.
For the 2025-26 school year, the San Diego Unified School District, which includes five campuses in La Jolla, is staring down a possible $112 million deficit that officials say is due to increased costs, declining enrollment (which affects state funding) and expiring one-time funding sources.
This comes at a time when test scores are fluctuating across the state and schools have wrestled with unsteady attendance rates since the COVID-19 pandemic.
But in 2024, La Jolla public schools also celebrated several academic and other achievements — from the completion of La Jolla Elementary’s whole-site modernization to Muirlands Middle’s statewide recognition as a Distinguished School.
The La Jolla Light asked local public school principals about their school’s performance in 2024 and how they hope to improve in the next year.
Here are their responses.
Bird Rock Elementary School, Principal Eric Banatao
“As a La Jolla cluster, we talked about how do we develop a school and systems and structures at each of our respective campuses such that people feel valued, welcomed and loved?” he said. “I think that continues to be something we can grow coming into this next year.”
La Jolla Elementary School, Principal Stephanie Hasselbrink
“We were thrilled to welcome our youngest learners to brand-new buildings with new furniture for the 2024-25 school year,” Principal Stephanie Hasselbrink said. “Our grass field was also completed in the spring, and students were so excited to run and play soccer on it when it opened in November.”
Torrey Pines Elementary School, Principal Keith Keiper
“All of our student groups have grown, with our English-learners and students with IEPs [individualized education programs] leading the charge with 25- to 60-point growth in all academic areas,” Keiper said. “[And] our chronic [absenteeism] issues continue to decline, dropping from 27% in 2021-22 to 9% in 2023-24.”
Muirlands Middle School, Principal Jeff Luna
“Being an exceptional teacher or classroom support person is one of the most demanding jobs,” Luna said. “The Muirlands community is blessed with such an incredible team to support their children.”
La Jolla High School, Principal Chuck Podhorsky
“We have seen remarkable achievements this school year — whether in the classroom, on the sports field or in the many extracurricular activities,” Podhorsky said. “We are incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work that our students have put forth … and know our La Jolla community will continue to see amazing things from these young scholars.”
“Students have stepped up this year to be advocates for social justice causes, take on projects to make our community better and more eco-friendly, champion health and wellness causes [and] build homes for those in need.”
Click link to read the entire article: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/01/02/la-jolla-school-principals-reflect-on-past-year-and-look-ahead-to-2025/