New principals announced for local elementary schools

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District recently named new principals for California, Killybrooke, Newport Heights and Pomona elementary schools, as well as a new director of elementary education.

The promotions take effect July 1.

Matthew Broesamle, who currently teaches sixth grade at Adams Elementary School, will take over as head of California. He has taught in the district for eight years and also served as a staff development coordinator, upper-grade lead teacher and a sixth-grade grade level chair.

Megan Elsten Brown, who has worked in the district since 2005, will take over at Pomona. Brown has taught elementary Spanish, adult education, English-as-a-second language, and has served as an intervention teacher.

Lorie Hoggard, the district’s director of early childhood education, will serve as Killybrooke principal. Hoggard started the district’s preschool program in 2002 and has previously served as Sonora Elementary principal.

Kathleen Jaquin, an elementary school principal in Huntington Beach, will take over at Newport Heights. Jaquin has worked as a middle school principal, resource teacher and elementary school teacher.

Kurt Suhr, Newport Heights principal, was named director of elementary education. He has worked with the district for 14 years, serving as a resource to new principals, on the district’s negotiations team and as a trainer for the assessment program.