Staci Ortiz joined the Diegueno family as Assistant Principal in 2023. Prior to that, she was hired by the district in 2005 as an English literature teacher at Torrey Pines High School. She was a proud Falcon for nearly 10 years before transitioning to the district as an English Language Development Specialist. Staci spent those years leading teacher trainings on strategies for developing academic language.
Staci earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Cal Poly, Pomona and worked nearly 10 years in the television news field. She tapped into her love of research, writing, and public speaking to pursue a teaching credential in English. Staci's passion for Education led to her obtaining a Master's Degree in cross-cultural education.
Now, a proud Diegueno Cougar, Staci is leading the school's initiative "One Diegueno" with the goal of creating a school climate of inclusion, acceptance, and joy. She is proud to be serving Diegueno and in her free time, you can find her hiking, enjoying adventures with her dog, or reading a good book.
