By TR Robertson
On Thursday the monthly Youth Enrichment Services (Y.E.S.) attendees heard Dr. Andrea Norman, Superintendent of Carlsbad Unified School District give an update about the schools and programs in the district. Abby Snyder, COO of the Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club, introduced Superintendent Norman. Dr. Norman became CUSD’s Superintendent in 2025, having served in a number of administrative positions in Orange County schools and including the Associate Superintendent of Business Services. She said this particular position gave her a wealth of funding and budget experiences that she brought to CUSD. Dr. Norman received a master’s degree from Cal State Dominquez Hill and her Doctorate from USC.
She began her presentation with the Elementary Ed program in Carlsbad. All of the schools are involved in the Universal Design for Learning and the Multi-tiered System of Support program. They are also collecting data to better assist Multi-lingual Learners. She said they are especially proud that all of the Elementary schools in the district have counselors. In the Focus on Early Education aspect of the district, they have run a pilot program for a full day Kindergarten program and are collecting data that will be used to evaluate this program prior to a vote by the school board in March. Dr. Norman pointed out that the social, emotional health and wellness, safety, and school climate are currently meeting and exceeding the districts expected goals. A Summer Language Academy is a 4-week program designed to support oral language development.
For Secondary Education, The Career and Technical Education pathways development and alignment continue to be a focus in the schools. Dr. Norman listed a number of different Instructional Services and other accomplishments of some of the schools. These included the Great Kindness Challenge, the Aviara Oaks Multi-cultural Day, Hope’s “Hope Around the World” program, the success of the Carlsbad High School football team and the upcoming musical “Something Rotten”, Sage Creek High Schools presentation of “Urinetown”, and Pacific Rim being recognized as a Purple Star School.
In the area of Business Services, the Superintendent explained that Carlsbad Unified is a Basic Aid District that is community funded through local property taxes, receiving little from the state. Looking at Facilities and improvements Pacific Rim has received a new STEM Lab and additional classrooms; Carlsbad High School is changing to a single entry point, replacing the chiller, replacing the alarm system and putting in a new track and field at the stadium; Carlsbad Village/Seaside Academy will soon be moving to a new facility; Sage Creek High School is going through soil investigation and mitigation looking at where various spots on campus where the ground appears to be settling; new Administrative building and counseling offices and science classrooms set for a Spring opening; and at Buena Vista School the modernization of many of the classrooms.
Dr. Norman encouraged those in attendance to attend different programs the schools in the district offer and to support the schools when different opportunities arise.
The Y.E.S. monthly meeting meets on the third Thursday of every month at the Pine Avenue Community Center. The Mission is to collaboratively create a safe, supportive network that empowers youth in Carlsbad and surrounding communities to thrive. A number of different agencies and organizations attend and give a short synopsis of their organization at each meeting. The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 19th and there will be a presentation on E-Bike Safety from the Police Traffic Division that will include recent ordinance updates, school district collaboration and enforcement efforts. E-mail Abby Snyder at asnyder@bgccarlsbad.org for more information about Y.E.S.
