The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) is pleased to announce the selection of Debra Lucas as principal of Cleveland Elementary School.
“I am pleased to promote Ms. Lucas to Principal of Cleveland Elementary,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald. “With her energy, her record of igniting passion for learning, and her profound commitment to creating academic opportunities for all children, Cleveland Elementary is ready to leap to new heights.”
Lucas has served as a district elementary instructional coach since 2014, providing professional development training for teachers and school site coaches, as well as creating district assessments.
She was part of the district’s curriculum revision workshop team that made PUSD an early adopter of the new state learning standards. Prior to that, she was a curriculum resource teacher and language development resource teacher at Longfellow Elementary School. During her time of service, Longfellow earned the California Distinguished School Award in 2010.
Lucas began her career in PUSD at Luther Burbank Elementary School as a classroom teacher in 1997.
“I am truly honored and humbled to join the incredible Cleveland STEAM School Community in the most important job in the world: educating our children,” said Lucas. “I am looking forward to working with Cleveland’s dedicated teachers, staff and families as we serve and support the academic and social needs of all students. I am committed to cultivating a community of caring students as they actively participate in and demonstrate excellence in their learning. I am extremely proud to be Principal of Cleveland STEAM, A Great Place to Learn.”
Lucas has a bachelor’s in dance therapy from New York University; a teaching credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills; and a master’s in educational leadership and Administrative Preliminary Credential from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
Lucas was promoted after a competitive process that included input provided by Cleveland Elementary stakeholders, students, employees, and parents that informed the development of the new principal profile.
Former principal Shannon Malone has been selected as Principal of Washington Middle School.
