Del Norte’s Nighthawks have a new principal

A new era has begun at Del Norte High School as principal Bryan Schultz takes the helm as the second top administrator in the 4S Ranch campus’ history.

Schultz acknowledges he has some big shoes to fill following the promotion of founding principal Greg Mizel to Poway Unified School District’s assistant superintendent of student support services. “Greg has been extremely helpful and open. I value his leadership and advice,” he said.

Del Norte’s mission — giving all students the “home court advantage” — drew him to the campus, he said.

“This place is a special place and I want to keep it a special place, for me to continue moving the dial and building relationships with the people here,” Schultz said.

He added, “I’m excited to be here ... and plan to be here a long time, getting to know this community and be a part of it. I’m excited for this opportunity.”

Schultz said his philosophy in education is that with every decision he makes he looks to give students the opportunity to be successful. “This is a phenomenal (education) system and place and I’m amazed to have found it,” he said. Building trust in his relationships and rapport with the students, staff and community is among his top stated priorities.

The San Diego native lives in the Bay Ho neighborhood with his wife of 24 years, Heidi. She is an English teacher in the Grossmont Union High School District. They are the parents of a 23-year-old son, Caleb, a recent Long Beach State graduate and mechanical engineer in San Diego; and 19-year-old daughter, Kayleigh, a student at UC Irvine. Both followed in their father’s footsteps by playing water polo in college.

“Athletics are a big part in our lives still today,” he said. “My favorite hobby is surfing as much as I possibly can.”

The family also enjoys travel and this summer went to Spain. Early in their careers, they lived in Italy for a year when Schultz and his wife taught at the American International School of Genoa. He taught history to eighth through 12th graders while she taught English to middle schoolers and ninth graders.

“It was a great experience, not only for us professionally, but for our two children. Our son was in sixth grade and daughter in second,” he said. “It was very fun to live like a typical Italian.”

Schultz earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Sacramento State University, his teaching credential from National University and his master’s degree in educational leadership and administrative credential from San Diego State University.

His career path began in high school when Schultz said he was “pigeonholed early” academically based on stereotype. “I not feel I was given the opportunity to grow and be stretched by a lot of my teachers in high school and resented it.

“When I went to college I didn’t feel academically really strong,” he said. “My athletic background got me into college. When I realized I was not going to be a professional water polo player, I had to learn how to navigate the academic world and didn’t feel my academic experience prepared me.”

He found his passion for history during his sophomore year due to an inspirational professor who was “able to story tell and bring events of the past relevant to (the present). I felt I really wanted to do that, which motivated me to become a teacher.”

Schultz began his career at Chula Vista High School and later Bonita Vista High School. His favorite class to teach was 10th grade world history because of its curriculum and students at that age. He also taught Advanced Placement U.S. history in an International Baccalaureate program.

Despite his enjoyment of being in the classroom, very early in his career Schultz knew moving into an administrative position was for him after being challenged by being placed in leadership positions. As a second-year teacher he was made chair of the social science department and by his third year of teaching began working toward his administrative credential. While completed by his fifth year of teaching, Schultz said he knew that he still had much to learn in the classroom, which is why he taught for a decade before becoming an assistant principal for five years.

While his goal was always to be a high school principal because “I really enjoy the high school age group due to the banter with the high school students and the teachers,” his former district’s philosophy was to move one’s way up through the levels. Therefore, he was principal of Fuerte Elementary for three years before being Montgomery Middle School’s principal last year. He called that time a “great learning experience ... that prepared me well for this position.”

Email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com