Christopher J. Steinhauser, Superintendent of Schools

Biography

Christopher J. Steinhauser, Superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District, is a long-time Long Beach resident and 26-year veteran educator in local schools. He has earned a well-deserved national reputation for improving student achievement here in America’s Best Urban Schools. He is respected as a friendly, tenacious, hands-on leader who helps students reach high expectations here in the most diverse large city in the nation.

Steinhauser has a strong track record of boosting achievement in all geographic areas of the school district – central, west, north and east Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood and on Catalina Island. He has even overseen Camp Hi-Hill, the district’s popular fifth grade outdoor science school near Mt. Wilson.

Beginning as an outstanding teacher at an inner-city elementary school in Long Beach, Steinhauser went on to attain very high student achievement as a school principal. He worked his way up to the position of Deputy Superintendent in 1999 before his unanimous appointment as Superintendent in 2002. During his years as Deputy Superintendent, students in all major racial and ethnic groups throughout the district made unprecedented gains on rigorous state tests.

Steinhauser began his career as a third and fifth grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School. He then worked as Program Facilitator at Grant and Muir elementary schools and Vice Principal at Burnett Elementary School. He was promoted to Principal at Signal Hill Elementary School, which became known as “the miracle on Walnut Avenue” under his leadership. From 1993 to 1996, Steinhauser was Director of Special Projects Services, and from 1996 to 1999, he served as Area C Superintendent.

He is a product of the Long Beach Unified School District, where he attended continuously from kindergarten until his graduation from Wilson High School in 1977. He attended Long Beach City College and California State University Long Beach, earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a master’s degree in educational administration. He earned multiple-subject and administrative services credentials at the university.

Steinhauser’s wife, Alida, is a veteran educator who teaches fifth grade literacy at Signal Hill Elementary School. Their son, Edward, graduated from Long Beach’s Wilson Classical High School in June of 2005. Their daughter, Patricia, graduated in June of 2007. With this background, no one is more committed to the success of all students here in California’s third largest school district than Chris Steinhauser.

9/1/07