By Emily von Buttlar
Features Editor
Daniel Pestle’s job at MBMS comes to a halt as he returns to Costa to fill the position of vice principal.
During Manhattan Beach Unified School District’s (MBUSD) board meeting on Oct. 21, Superintendent Dr. Mike Matthews and board members Karen Komatinsky, Bill Fournell, Jen Fenton, Sally Peel and Jennifer Cochran unanimously voted for Pestle to become a vice principal at Costa.
“Two years ago, from 2019 to 2020, I was the principal at MBX [summer school,]” Pestle said. “At that point in time, I really started to enjoy being on [Costa’s] campus, working with the kids, and I thought if a position opened up here as an administrator, then I would definitely apply.”
Pestle’s first job within MBUSD was as a substitute drama teacher at Costa, but after a teaching position opened up at Manhattan Beach Middle School (MBMS), he began working a full-time job there. Pestle had been an English teacher at MBMS from 2014 to 2020 before applying for the vice principal job at Costa.
“The process starts with an email going out saying that there is a position available,” Pestle said. “I knew right away that I was going to try for it.”
Pestle is currently Costa’s vice principal for the class of 2024. He helps with issues such as attendance and academic challenges. Pestle is also working with the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Committee as he is in charge of the activities students participate in on Wellness Wednesdays. According to Pestle, his main goal is to aid students, teachers, staff and parents in finding solutions to any problems that arise throughout the school year. He also wants to support the students and parents throughout their time at Costa, according to Pestle.
“I hope to [keep Costa] a safe, vibrant and high academic school,” Pestle said. “I want to [continue] helping kids succeed and help teachers when they need it.”
Pestle had been working at MBMS while finalizing his position as vice principal at Costa. On Oct. 30, he officially quit his job at the middle school and on Nov. 1 he started his role as vice principal at Costa. Pestle has been working with Vice Principal Stephanie Hall, the Human Resources Program and many other staff members.
“I think the greatest challenge has been not being able to be on campus,” Pestle said. “One of the ways an administrator is going to want to connect with the school is to meet the students throughout the campus. Since I cannot do that physically, there is a barrier to immerse yourself in the school.”
According to Pestle, he is looking forward to helping students, staff and improving Costa. He hopes to get back to in-person learning soon to meet the students and staff that he will be working with at Costa, according to Pestle.
“I am really looking forward to meeting the kids I taught at MBMS as they grow older, and meeting the new kids I didn’t teach,” Pestle said. “I am excited to be in a district that I have been in for the last six years and to move to a new administrative position and still be in the same district is exciting.”
Leave a Reply