Arcadia Unified School District has recently announced Dr. Jorge Munoz as the new Arcadia High School (AHS) principal starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This announcement followed shortly after Dr. Angie Dillman was chosen as Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.
Dr. Munoz has been working at AUSD for 19 years, and he sees the new position of principal as a position where he could best “help the school.”
In his plans for the next few years, he hopes to successfully introduce the Golden State Pathways Program, a five-year grant program intended to prepare students for high-demand careers through guided academic tracks. Dr. Munoz is particularly excited that AHS is currently planning on areas like education, healthcare, and computer science as starting points.
“If a student walks on campus knowing they want to be a teacher, then we’re able to tell them there’s a series of classes they could take,” he said. “It also lets us build stronger connections with local colleges and employers, so students get a real sense of what those careers look like.”
In his current role as assistant principal, Dr. Munoz has worked to implement many changes, such as making AP exam registration more convenient on TotalRegistration and securing UC-approved elective credit for certain science courses.
Dr. Munoz recognizes that AHS can be challenging for many, given the high expectations students set for themselves. He emphasizes that while it is suggested that students challenge themselves in rigorous coursework, a balance between academics, extracurricular, and social events is also important. He hopes AHS students will find things they are truly interested in.
“Find the things that you’re interested in and lean into those and find ways to do that,” he said. “You will enjoy yourself, but if you’re doing it for somebody else, there will be less joy in it.”
In regards to this transition, Dr. Munoz said, “Of course I am excited and I know this is a big job; it’s very public and I have the responsibility to represent the whole school. I hope to really show all of the great things we have to celebrate here.”
Photo Courtesy of AUSD
