Ayer Principal

Bernice Ayer Middle School : Principal Cheryl Baughn

Dr. Cheryl Baughn attended John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District . She began her career as an educator in 1969 when she graduated from the University of Redlands with degrees in English and physical education. She taught English, physical education and health classes to middle school students for fifteen years in the Redlands , Tustin and Irvine Unified School Districts . While working in Irvine Unified she became a project director, disseminating a Title IV-C project and coordinating curriculum and staff development efforts. Concurrently, she completed a master's degree in exercise physiology from California State University , Fullerton and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Southern California .

In 1985, Dr. Baughn became a school administrator. Her first assignment was as an assistant principal and principal at Hidden Valley Middle School in Escondido Union School District . In 1988, Dr. Baughn became principal of Thurston Middle School in Laguna Beach Unified School District . Under her leadership, Thurston became a California Distinguished School in 1993. Dr. Baughn also served as the Interim Superintendent of Laguna Beach Unified for the 1996-1997 school year.

In 1998, Dr. Baughn was hired by the Capistrano Unified School District to open Bernice Ayer Middle School in San Clemente . As principal she worked with the members of the Planning Team to develop a shared vision for the new school. Since the school opened, the staff has worked to build a collaborative school culture with the belief that all students can be successful. The staff has taken the lead in creating a Professional Learning Community and developing a systematic model for intervention and support for students.

In her spare time, Dr. Baughn races outrigger canoes with the Dana Outrigger Canoe Club, a passion she shares with her husband, a high school art teacher, and her teenage daughter.

Bernice Ayer Middle School website

California League of Middle Schools
6615 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 120, Long Beach, California 90803
Voice: 562/430-3136 or 800/326-1880 . . . FAX: 562/430-5607. . . E-Mail: info@clms.net