La Jolla Elementary School eyes new leader as principal takes another role in district

The search is on for a new leader at La Jolla Elementary School after Principal Stephanie Hasselbrink announced her departure to take another role in the San Diego Unified School District.

Hasselbrink will work on the district’s Future Ready Learning initiative, which supports curriculum and technology in SDUSD’s math, literacy, instructional technology, science and library departments, according to senior director Julie Garcia.

One of its recent projects is developing artificial intelligence guidelines with the instructional technology and library services teams, Garcia said. Hasselbrink fills a recently vacated spot on the initiative team.

“After much consideration and reflection, I have decided that my next professional step is to move on from La Jolla Elementary School to pursue other opportunities,” Hasselbrink wrote in an email to school families Jan. 5.

“I am deeply grateful for the time I have spent serving this exceptional community, both as a teacher from 2011 to 2015 and as principal from 2019 to 2026,” she added. “I have learned so much, and it has truly been an honor to work alongside all of you.”

Hasselbrink declined additional comment.

Juan Romo, a retired mentor principal — one who guides and supports new or aspiring principals — has stepped in as the school’s interim principal. He will be followed by Chris Hargrave, one of three interim principals who led La Jolla’s Bird Rock Elementary School after Principal Andi Frost left in 2023 and before current Principal Eric Banatao was hired in 2024.

La Jolla Elementary Associate Principal Rachel Alexander, who splits her time between LJES and Doyle Elementary in University City, will continue to work at the school on Mondays, Tuesdays and alternating Wednesdays.

San Diego Unified Area C Superintendent Mitzi Merino outlined the process for hiring a new principal at the Jan. 15 meeting of the La Jolla Cluster Association, which includes representatives of La Jolla’s five public schools in SDUSD.

The formal search will begin when the job is posted online Sunday, Feb. 1, Merino said.

Before then, Merino said, she will meet with La Jolla Elementary staff and parents to hear what they’re looking for in the next principal and determine criteria for applicant screenings.

Initial top candidates will be elevated to an interview with the area superintendent team in late February. Candidates who graduate to the next level will meet with a community panel consisting of teachers, parents and a local administrator.

The last steps in the process will be a walk-through in which candidates demonstrate they can observe and offer feedback to teachers, and then a final interview with the superintendent.

Under the current timeline, an announcement of a new principal would be made Tuesday, March 10.

However, Merino said, if the district can’t find an ideal candidate, the job will be reposted and the process will start over.

“I will keep you informed on the process,” Merino told the Cluster Association. “I know this matters, but I also know you’re in really good hands in the meantime. So we can take our time and find the perfect match.”

The most recent principal departure in the La Jolla Cluster before Hasselbrink took place last year when Muirlands Middle School’s Jeff Luna opted into the district’s Supplemental Early Retirement Program, which offers longer-serving, higher-paid employees incentive payments to retire early as a way to prevent layoffs of younger staff members, including teachers.

Brendan Simon was announced as Luna’s replacement last April and officially began work July 1.

Next meeting: The La Jolla Cluster Association’s next quarterly meeting will be at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Muirlands Middle School library, 1056 Nautilus St. For more information, visit lajollacluster.com.