Castaic Middle School will have a new principal as of October 1 when current principal, Dr. Ellen Edeburn, leaves to serve as Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Santa Monica-Malibu School District. The Castaic Union School District Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Mr. Robert Brauneisen to Dr. Edeburn’s position in a special board meeting the evening of September 19.

Mr. Brauneisen has served as principal at Castaic’s Northlake Hills Elementary School for the past eight years where he has successfully led staff and students in a steady upward climb, consistently leading the district in API scores and earning a California Distinguished School award in 2008. He previously served in multiple roles as an educator, beginning his career as a sixth grade teacher and also holding administrative positions as a middle school assistant principal and Director of Instructional Technology for the Glendale Unified School District.

As a result of Mr. Brauneisen’s departure from Northlake Hills Elementary School, the CUSD Board of Trustees has asked Mrs. Erin Augusta, current Northlake Hills fifth grade teacher and Administrative Designee, to step in as Interim Principal. Mrs. Augusta’s leadership experience includes several stints as a summer school principal, grade level leader and professional development provider. She currently is assisting CUSD Assistant Superintendent Janene Maxon in designing and delivering staff development relative to the new California Common Core Standards as the district continues to immerse itself in 21^st century learning skills.