On July 16, Loan Sriruska was unanimously approved by the BHUSD board to be the new principal for the district’s high school. Sriruska had started her career in education almost 30 years ago as an athletics coach and a teacher for special education. Over time, she was able to work her way up to assistant principal and later on principal at various other schools. However, her love for teaching started much further back.

Sriruska expressed the impact that many of her teachers had on her, “So many of [them] changed my life path… [and] how I saw the world.” Sriruska hoped to have that same influence on her students. 

“I actually went to my second-grade teacher’s 90th birthday party and that was so special… [because] she was the first one that truly made me feel so loved and seen…” she said. Making sure that all of her students feel cared for and have a safe place in their lives is something she strives to create at school.

A way she has started doing this is by sending out personal notes and candy to students on their birthdays. Even students with birthdays over the summer will receive a postcard on their half-birthday. 

Sriruska explained, “Making sure that everybody feels safe and seen here… because I have felt that and want to be able to reciprocate that to everybody here as well.”

When making all of her decisions, she is always trying to keep the students’ and staff’s “best interests in mind.” Her goal is to provide quality education to her students while making sure that everyone feels important.

But her most valuable lesson for students is to take advantage of every opportunity that is given because, “It’s a short four years so… go for it! Keep an open mind to the different opportunities that present themselves and take [them]!”