Kyra Williams
Executive News Editor
Manhattan Beach Middle School Principal Kim Linz announced in an email addressed to Manhattan Beach Middle School families on Nov. 7 that she is leaving the Manhattan Beach Unified School on Dec. 1 to accept a position as the Chief Business Official in the El Segundo Unified School District.
Linz was a teacher for 10 years in the Beverly Hills Unified School District before coming to work as the Assistant Principal at MBMS from 2008-2011. She then became the Principal of Pacific Elementary School until she took over former Principal John Jackson’s position at MBMS in 2016.
“Ms. Linz has been a strong member of the MBUSD leadership team for many years, both at MBMS and at Pacific,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dawnalyn Murakawa-Leopard said. “I was lucky to have the chance to work with her when she was a teacher and as she transitioned into her first administrative role. We worked together in the Beverly Hills Unified School District before she came to Manhattan Beach, and she has always been a talented educator and a strong leader.”
Linz notified MBUSD of her departure on Nov. 5 and later sent an email to parents and students. While most hiring opportunities for school employees happen between school years, some do happen during the year, MBUSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Lucas said.
“Ms. Linz has led the pathway to exciting instructional changes at the school that have increased collaboration, school safety and students’ sense of enthusiasm,” Lucas said. “Her work in Professional Learning Communities, review of alternative bell schedules, social-emotional work and student belonging has been extremely strong.”
Linz said one of her proudest accomplishments during her time at MBMS was implementing the WEBB program, which stands for Where Everyone Belongs. It is an eighth grade mentorship program for the sixth graders similar to Costa’s Link Crew program.
“I am going to miss seeing the kids everyday,” Linz said. “The staff here is really great too.”
Lucas and MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews met this week with MBMS parents and staff to get input on the principal position. Anyone is welcome to send the district an email to provide their suggestions or thoughts about the qualities and characteristics that they think are needed in the next MBMS principal, Lucas said. They will send out an email to the MBMS community at the end of this week about the next steps in the hiring process.
After the information gathering phase, MBUSD will create a job description to fill Linz’s role as principal and they will then narrow down the candidates. If a principal is not hired by Dec. 1, the district will appoint an interim principal, Lucas said.
“Kim Linz has been an amazing teacher, leader and administrator during her time here in MBUSD,” MBUSD Board President Karen Komatinsky said. “She adores kids, works well with so many staff members and is a great colleague and teammate. As sad as it will be with her exit, this is a very exciting career opportunity for her and really something that she could not pass up.”
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