CARLSBAD UNIFIED CONNECTIONS
September 9, 2022
Staff Spotlight!
Heather Gearing, Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Carlsbad High School
We are excited about the opportunity to highlight our extraordinary staff members. In Carlsbad Unified, our people are our strength.
This month, our Staff Spotlight is on Carlsbad High School’s Heather Gearing.
Ms. Gearing holds a challenging position as the Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Carlsbad High School. This position is responsible for directly supporting the principal and administrative team in the planning and organization of office activities, communications, public relations, events, arranging appointments, and providing direction to staff to assure smooth and efficient operations of the high school campus.
In addition to her work in support of the students and staff at CHS, Ms. Gearing also finds the time and energy to represent our district’s classified employees. With great compassion and dedication, Ms. Gearing has served as the Chapter President of LIUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America) since 2014. She has been a member of the LIUNA Executive Board for 15 years, and also served as its treasurer.
As LIUNA President, Ms. Gearing advocates for her members and works collaboratively with the district to make sure that everyone has a voice and feels valued. She describes our classified employees as the “unsung heroes” of the district because their important and pivotal work in determining our district's success is done behind the scenes.
“Our ‘primary customers’ – our students – depend on all of us coming together to provide them with the very best experience possible while in our care,” says Ms. Gearing. “I am extremely proud not only to represent, but to also work alongside, the amazing classified employees that we have here in the Carlsbad Unified School District. I’m always rooting for the underdog.”
“It is a great honor to work with Heather Gearing,” says CHS principal Julie Redfield. “She truly cares about all of our employees, and works to ensure that the classified staff is being heard and treated fairly.”
Ms. Gearing has a 10-year-old son and is the PTO treasurer at his school. She also loves to cook. Before her current assignment at Carlsbad High School, Ms. Gearing worked in Payroll and at Calavera Hills Middle School.
We salute Ms. Gearing’s expertise, professionalism, and tireless work.
New Administrative Appointments
With the new school year, we are pleased to announce several new administrative changes. Six of the seven come from within our CUSD ranks, and we also welcome a new administrator into our district.
We are pleased that our longtime Director of Secondary Education, Megan Arias, is now serving as Director of Certificated Personnel Services, a one-year assignment in preparation for an appointment in 2023 as Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services. Ms. Arias previously served as Principal and Assistant Principal of Aviara Oaks Middle School. In 2019, Ms. Arias was recognized by the Classroom of the Future Foundation as the College & Career Pathways Educator of the Year.
Dr. Bryan Brockett is our new Director of Secondary Education, stepping into Ms. Arias’ previous role after four years as Principal at Carlsbad High School. He also served as the Principal at Aviara Oaks Middle School and an Assistant Principal at Valley Middle School. In 2021, Dr. Brockett was honored by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce as the Administrator of the Year.
Robert Allen has been named our new Director of Assessment and Technology. Mr. Allen served as the district’s Technology TOSA (teacher on special assignment) for five years, and then as a teacher at Carlsbad Seaside Academy. Previously, Mr. Allen taught at Calavera Hills Middle School, where he was named the 2016 Carlsbad Unified Teacher of the Year. He also received the Inspire Award for Innovative Classrooms from the Classroom of the Future Foundation in 2017.
Kristy Stevens is our new Nutrition Services Operations Supervisor, having worked in school kitchens for over eight years and managing kitchens for seven years. Ms. Stevens previously worked for San Dieguito Union High School District.
Julie Redfield now serves as Principal at Carlsbad High School, after being Assistant Principal at CHS since 2012. She also had served as Assistant Principal at Valley Middle School. Previously, she worked as a School Counselor at Carlsbad Village Academy, Carlsbad Seaside Academy, and Valley Middle School. In 2019, Ms. Redfield was recognized as the Co-Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators for San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Ethan Williams was appointed as an Assistant Principal at Carlsbad High School, a position previously held by Julie Redfield. He comes to CUSD after five years of distinguished service at Claremont High School in the San Diego Unified School District as Principal and Assistant Principal.
Marisa Leong is the new Assistant Principal at Calavera Hills Middle School, after serving there as a TOSA for the past three years. Previously, she served as an Education Specialist at CHMS, adjunct faculty at Mount Saint Mary’s, and Inclusion Specialist in Los Angeles Unified.
Melissa Barry is now Assistant Principal at Aviara Oaks Middle School. Ms. Barry most recently taught 10th grade English at Sage Creek High School. There she also served as the Link Crew Coordinator and Yearbook Advisor, and for the last two years was the Summer School Principal for Elementary and Middle Schools. Prior to joining CUSD, Ms. Berry taught in the San Dieguito Union High School District and served as a Middle School Administrator at Guajome Park Academy.
We are extremely proud of the commitment and professional strength of our administrative team here at CUSD, and look forward to working with these administrators in their new roles.
Megan Arias, Director of Certificated Personnel Services
Dr. Bryan Brockett, Director of Secondary Education
Robert Allen, Director of Assessment and Technology
Kristy Stevens, Nutrition Services Operations Supervisor
Julie Redfield, Principal, Carlsbad High School
Ethan Williams, Assistant Principal, Carlsbad High School
Marisa Leong, Assistant Principal, Calavera Hills Middle School
Melissa Barry, Assistant Principal, Aviara Oaks Middle School
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Carlsbad Unified School District
Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.k12.ca.us
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/CarlsbadUnifiedSchools
Twitter: @CarlsbadUSD