POINT LOMA – There will be new leadership at Point Loma High next school year, after the current principal announced his early retirement.
David Jaffe took the job with the school three years ago, succeeding Kelly Lowry, and had planned to work for three more years.
Over the past 34 years, Jaffe has served across all grades from pre-K-12. He has served as principal at four high schools, one elementary school, and for two years as a district superintendent.
He began in 1992 as an instructional aide at Lewis Junior High School in San Diego.
Jaffe said the process to select a new leader has already begun. Stakeholders, including students, teachers, classified staff, and community members, will have a voice in the selection process. The San Diego Unified School District hopes to announce the new principal before the end of June. Jaffe will be active and on campus until June 30.
Despite retiring early, Jaffe feels he has accomplished what he was asked to do.
“When I arrived three years ago, there were some challenges, including the culture of the campus, how kids were interacting with each other, and behaving with each other,” he said.
“So part of my role was to reshape that and build this into an environment where kids were excited to come to school, and teachers were excited to teach. I think over the three years we have had the school in a really good spot.”
Several elements contributed to the changeover.
“I think we’ve hired some really good people on the teaching and coaching side of it, along with the music program,” Jaffe said. “We have really good people in place. That includes every member of my administrative team.
“I’m really proud of all of them and have every confidence they will shepherd and help the new principal in the next iteration of this school.”
Jaffe appeared at every varsity football game, home and away, where student behavior became an issue before his arrival, where he could be seen interacting with students and taking part in cheers. Students were overheard happily chanting his name this past season.
Jaffe spoke about the Point Loma community he has come to know.
“I’m very confident that these young folks are going to be able to take (our society) to the next level,” he said. “We’re going to have some really well-qualified kids that have navigated a whole bunch of stuff nobody in my age group ever had to.”
To his successor, Jaffe says, “Whomever the next principal is will have a gift composed of who they’re going to work with.”
Jaffe plans to spend his retirement volunteering or working in some capacity to make his own community — La Costa — a better place.
