June 2018 Message from the Superintendent

The Class of 2018 Graduates

The diplomas have been conferred, the graduation caps have sailed high into the air, and the students, families, and staff members have shared hugs and tears. Carlsbad Unified has bid a bittersweet farewell to its seniors, and these young people—equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed—now begin their journeys to colleges and careers. Graduation 2018 is in the books.


Carlsbad High School boasted 522 graduates this year, with an impressive graduation rate of over 95%. The Valedictorian and the Salutatorian, Kenneth Trang and Orion Lehrmann, are both headed to UC Berkeley in the fall. Graduating seniors include NROTC Scholarship recipient Gavan McCarthy, who received a $180,000 stipend to attend George Washington University. Football player Cameron Thomas will join several former Lancers as a member of the team at San Diego State University. Peytie Slater, member of the State Championship Surf Team and former Project Runway Junior fashion design contestant, is off to UCSB. And scholar/athlete Tyler Francis, who played football, track and soccer at CHS, will play football and major in molecular biology at the University of Colorado in Boulder.


At Sage Creek High School, 312 graduates crossed the stage at SCHS Stadium, representing a 99% graduation rate. Both Valedictorian Brendan Drury and Salutatorian Tyler Jung are headed to UCLA. Several Division I Athletes, including Volleyball All-American Christian Janke, will be competing next year at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ.


A solid 93% of SCHS seniors reported that they will attend a two-year or four-year post-secondary institution. Of these students, 77% plan to attend college in California, 5% will be heading to Arizona, and 2% are off Colorado, New York, Washington, and Oregon. Notably, 100% of Advancement Via Independent Determination (AVID) seniors were admitted to a four-year university. And all SCHS seniors were challenged to make an impact, develop a passion, and grow outside of the confines of the school classroom via Sage Creek’s Genius Project.


Adriana Escobedo was Carlsbad Village Academy’s Valedictorian, representing its 36 graduates. Over half of the Academy’s grads have enrolled at either MiraCosta College or Palomar College.


Carlsbad Seaside Academy’s 16 graduates include Valedictorian Katherine Fandey and Salutatorian David Krekorian. Among the colleges CSA grads will attend are Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo, the University of Denmark, Cal State Fullerton, MiraCosta College, Palomar College, Biola University, and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.


I was honored to watch these accomplished young adults as they walked across the stage, leaving behind their Carlsbad Unified schooldays and stepping into their futures. As I saw the pride and the excitement these graduates exuded as they left the stadium, I reflected on what had come before.


I considered the parents who had carefully tended their little ones, fiercely shielding them from danger, introducing them to the wonders around them, and teaching them to make wise decisions. I thought of the kindergarten teachers who showed them how to share and cooperate and find joy in butterflies and rhymes. And I remembered all of the teachers who instilled in them the passion for analyzing, questioning, learning, and caring. There were the coaches and scout leaders and community volunteers, the first responders and health care professionals, and the administrators and counselors and support staff who guided and protected them on their way. As our former students now move forward into their adult lives, they carry with them the support of these special people who have touched their lives.



Congratulations to the Class of 2018. We look forward to hearing great things from you!

June 2018 Guest Post: Emily Hyde, Carlsbad High School

Each month, a student from one of our high schools will write a guest post for the Superintendent Blog. The students will be asked to reflect on one of the characteristics described in our Graduate Profile. This month, Carlsbad High School student Emily Hyde reflects on the characteristic of “Self-Directed Individual.”

Carlsbad Unified Graduate Profile: Self-Directed Individual

“Graduates accept responsibility for their learning. They recognize their strengths and work to their full potential.”

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All my life, I have been most reliant on myself for my education and success in school. I have had trust in my own skills and work ethic so that I could reach my full potential. Sometimes, this can be difficult because it means taking responsibility for not only my accomplishments but also my failures; but that is what is necessary to prepare students to succeed after they leave high school.


To be a self-directed individual is to be someone who shows initiative for their goals, and takes responsibility for what they can or cannot do. In schools, these qualities are highly important because they often translate to a good work ethic and ultimately success. At Carlsbad High School, we are taught to take charge of our learning and accept any difficulties or challenges we face with confidence and determination. The teachers here have taught us that we have the most control over our education and only we have the power to truly transform ourselves into the people we hope to become.


Being a self- directed individual may become even more important later in life. Here in high school, we have teachers and administrators that guide us and give us the tools we need to succeed; however these role models may not always be present in our lives. It is important that we learn to motivate ourselves and recognize what needs to be done so that we can reach our full potential in the future. Once we are in college or in the workforce, these qualities become even more essential and can often determine whether someone succeeds or fails under trying circumstances.


Additionally, as a junior in high school, I have realized that it is absolutely imperative to self-direct yourself throughout all the struggles this year provides. It can be difficult to take complete responsibility over your learning, because there will always be times where you cannot reach your goals. Whether you do poorly on a test, or miss a homework assignment, it is still important to recognize how these struggles can play a part in our learning and ultimately lead us to become more self directed individuals.


These qualities that come with being self directed play a role in other aspects of students lives’ as well. Through sports or other extracurriculars, students can utilize the skills they learn in school and further explore their own capabilities, allowing them to grow and develop as people. Teaching students to become more self-directed encourages them to take responsibility for their future and push themselves to reach their fullest potential in every aspect of life.


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Emily Hyde is a junior at Carlsbad High and will soon be an editor in chief of the Lancer Link. In her free time, she dances at Carlsbad Dance Centre and listens to music.