On behalf of Superintendent Dr. Andrea Norman

Dear CUSD Students, Families, and Staff,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer and enjoyed meaningful time with family and friends. As your new Superintendent, I am truly honored to begin my first year in Carlsbad Unified School District. I’m excited to meet the incredible students, dedicated staff, engaged families, and supportive community members who make CUSD such a special place to learn and grow.

This year, our theme is “Elevate Every Learner.” Our shared goal is to ensure that every CUSD student receives an exceptional educational experience—one that offers rich, meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Through rigorous curriculum, engaging instruction, and the commitment of our talented classified and certificated staff, we equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a diverse and ever-changing world.

Throughout the summer, district staff worked diligently to provide enriching programs for students to help them prepare for the year ahead. One exciting highlight was the first annual Language Academy held at Jefferson Elementary, where nearly 100 elementary students strengthened their English Language reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. In partnership with the Carlsbad Education Foundation (CEF), students also participated in a variety of weeklong enrichment camps focused on music, art, robotics, technology, performance, and online learning opportunities for grades 7–12.

Ahead of the 2025–26 school year, CUSD offered a robust lineup of professional learning opportunities for teachers. The annual Sizzling Summer Workshops offered three optional half-days of engaging sessions on topics such as student engagement strategies, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), AI in the classroom, EduProtocols, strengths-based learning, and more. Nearly 150 teachers and certificated staff participated, with presenters primarily drawn from CUSD’s own talented educators. On August 14, all staff gathered at Carlsbad High School for a full-day event beginning with a motivational keynote, followed by two self-selected 90-minute sessions from a menu of 25+ offerings, and concluding with grade-level or department collaboration. All sessions connect to this year’s theme—UDL in Action: Elevating Every Learner—ensuring relevant, inspiring, and high-impact learning experiences to launch the school year.

As the 2024–2025 school year came to a close, many of our campuses became hubs of activity with Measure HH summer improvement projects. Here are just a few of the exciting developments:

• Buena Vista Elementary School began preparations for a highly anticipated, campus-wide modernization. Temporary classrooms now house our preschool program as the next phase of construction gets underway.

• Aviara Oaks Elementary School continued its two-year renovation project, with this summer’s efforts enhancing outdoor learning spaces, upgrading field areas, and improving traffic flow for greater safety.

• At Aviara Oaks Middle School, construction progressed on a new two-story building that will house a modern administrative office, a counseling center, and six new classrooms. This state-of-the-art facility is on track to open by Spring Break 2026.

• Pacific Rim Elementary School saw upgrades to fire alarm and access control systems and completed vital underground utility work in preparation for a new eight-classroom building.

These Measure HH projects would not be possible without the support of our community. They reflect years of thoughtful planning and are part of our ongoing commitment to providing safe, modern, and inspiring learning environments for all students.

As we begin this new academic year, I look forward to celebrating the achievements, growth, and connections that make Carlsbad Unified a place of excellence. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students, staff, and schools.

Here’s to a successful and inspiring 2025–2026 school year!

Warm regards,
Dr. Andrea Norman
Superintendent of Schools
Carlsbad Unified School District

Safe Schools for Students

Dear Carlsbad Unified School District Community,

We are excited to welcome our students back for what promises to be another inspiring year in CUSD. While this is a time of excitement and new beginnings, we also recognize that recent local and national conversations around immigration may be creating uncertainty or concern for some families.

We want to reaffirm our commitment to the sense of safety and well-being of every student in Carlsbad Unified. Our schools should be places where all students, regardless of background or immigration status, feel safe, supported, and valued.

We follow Board Policy 5145.13: Response to Immigration Enforcement, the guidance of the California Attorney General, and all applicable state and federal laws. These policies and protections ensure that every child has equitable access to the education they deserve.

A few important reminders for our community:

• Right to a Free Public Education: The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Plyler v. Doe (1982) guarantees every child the right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status.

• Confidentiality of Information: CUSD does not request or maintain information regarding a student’s or family’s immigration status during enrollment. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student records from disclosure without proper legal authorization.

• State Legal Protections: Under California law, including Assembly Bill 699 (2017), school districts and their employees are prohibited from assisting with federal immigration enforcement activities except in very limited and specific circumstances. These safeguards help ensure our schools remain safe, inclusive learning environments for all.

CUSD is committed to cultivating school communities where every student feels welcome, respected, and prepared to thrive. In alignment with California Education Code 220 and Board Policy 5145.3, we will continue to ensure our students’ rights and promote a sense of belonging.

If you have questions or need support, the State of California offers resources and information for families on its website. Together, as partners in education, we can ensure CUSD remains a place where every student is welcomed, respected, and prepared to thrive.

Thank you for your trust, your support, and for being an essential part of the CUSD family.

About Dr. Norman

Dr. Andrea Norman has dedicated over 27 years to public education, serving in a wide range of roles across five California school districts. She began her career in 1997 with the Los Angeles Unified School District as an elementary school teacher, where she taught second through fifth grades for more than six years. In 2001, she transitioned into school administration as an Assistant Principal and later served as an Elementary Principal in the Temecula Valley and Saddleback Valley Unified School Districts for over a decade.

Following 13 years in site leadership, Dr. Norman moved into district-level administration, serving as Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District for over three years. In 2019, she joined the Oceanside Unified School District as Director of Certificated Human Resources. In 2021, she was appointed Associate Superintendent of Business Services and earned her Chief Business Officer (CBO) Certification from the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).

Dr. Norman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach; a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from California State University, Dominguez Hills; and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California. Her doctoral studies focused on student success through site leadership and data-driven decision-making.

Dr. Norman is deeply committed to equipping educators with the resources and tools essential for fostering student achievement. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to ensuring that every student has access to the opportunities, support, and services needed to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.