Principal's Message
Dear Birney Bobcats,
I am honored to introduce myself as the new principal of Birney Elementary School! Birney's strong reputation for academic excellence, dedicated educators, and supportive families drew me here, and I am excited to join such a vibrant and caring school community. I look forward to working together as we continue to nurture a school environment where every child feels supported, challenged, and inspired to do their best.
I have been an educator for 13 years, with the past IO years as a classroom teacher and reading
specialist in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. These roles have deepened my
belief in the importance of relationships, growth-focused instruction, and whole-child support. I
am passionate about helping students grow-academically, socially, and emotionally-and my
top priorities this year are to learn more about all the wonderful things that make Birney special,
explore ways we can continue growing, and offer support wherever possible.
My husband, Gavin, and I live in Long Beach with our two children, Lars (4) and Etta (3). Lars
will be starting TK next year and is very into swimming and jiu-jitsu, while Etta keeps us
laughing with her big personality and adventurous spirit. As a family, we love hiking, camping,
beach days, and biking around the neighborhood with our Labradoodle, Gus.
In the year ahead, I look forward to building strong relationships with students, families, and
staff. I value communication, meaningful collaboration, and a shared commitment to doing what
is best for kids.
To our students, I can't wait to meet you, learn alongside you, and celebrate all the amazing
things you will accomplish this year.
Thank you for welcoming me to the Birney family. I officially start in July and look forward to
all the great things we will achieve together.
In Partnership,
Cait Christensen