Ryan Bushore Is New Corpus Christi Principal

After conducting a yearlong nationwide search to find a principal who understands the needs of the Pacific Palisades community and who embraces the ever-expanding role of technology in education, Corpus Christi Catholic School selected current vice principal Ryan Bushore.

Bushore, an eighth-grade homeroom teacher responsible for math and social studies, has taught at the school for six years, and has served as vice principal for three. He will replace Sister Patricia, who had come out of retirement to resume her previous role when Catherine Carvalho unexpectedly resigned in March 2012.

“I’m incredibly excited and blessed,” Bushore told the Palisadian-Post. “I am thankful to be able to work with such an extraordinary group of kids. That I was selected to be principal couldn’t make me happier.”

Bushore graduated from Oak Park High School in the San Fernando Valley in 1997 and Loyola Marymount University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in film production and musical theater.

He didn’t initially intend to go into education, but while on break from production gigs started substitute teaching in Oak Park schools. He enjoyed it so much, he changed vocations, and continued his education at LMU receiving his master’s degree in education in 2005, his teaching credential in 2007 and a master’s in educational leadership and Catholic School leadership in 2009.

Parents such as Clara Saab praise Bushore’s teaching ability. “He could teach kids Chinese, even if he doesn’t speak or know the language,” she said.

After vetting applicants, the selection committee of school parents and administrators, Monsignor Kidney, parishioners and a local school principal invited 13 candidates from across the country to Pacific Palisades for an interview.

The pool was narrowed to three candidates including Bushore, and they were brought back for additional questioning. “We were asked scenarios and how we would handle them,” Bushore said.

A few weeks later he learned that the search had been narrowed to two, and there would be a final interview. “We were also given questions ahead of time about how we might handle several situations,” he said. On March 5, Bushore learned that he had been selected.

For many school parents, it wasn’t a surprise. “Every lead teacher at the school has a master’s and an administrative credential,” said parent Catherine Gallagher, who also does public relations for the school. “We have had two prior teachers become heads of schools at other locations.”

Asked why the school went through the process since there was already a good choice at the school, Gallagher said she felt that parents needed to participate in the selection and to also know that proper vetting had been done.

“I think his two strengths are curriculum and technology,” Gallagher said.  “We’re so lucky. The transition will be seamless.”

Last week, current teachers Gail Fears and John Genova were named as co-vice principals, replacing Bushore. And Sister Patricia will return to retirement “She calls herself the recycled principal,” Gallagher said.

“It was a complete gift working with Sister the past year,” said Bushore, who also worked under Carvalho. “We have such a great faculty. They care about student success, well-being and helping them achieve to their fullest potential.”

When asked if there are any areas he needs to address, Bushore said, “You can always improve on something and you can always be more effective.”

One of his challenges will be to adapt the national standards for core curriculum. “The federal government has been trying to get schools nationwide to have the same standards, and the archdiocese would also like us to work on that,” he said.

In June, groundbreaking for a new building between the school office and the gymnasium will take place. “We’re not adding classrooms or students,” said Bushore. “The new space will provide more flexibility for teachers.”

Bushore has also served as a football, basketball, soccer, track and field and cross-country coach for students in third through eighth grade. “I’ll have to give that up next year,” he said, remarking how his varsity girls’ track team broke the 4 X 400 relay record last year at the CYO finals.

His philosophy of sports centers on the individual. “I don’t look at wins or losses, but rather, is the youth developing, and am I helping him/her improve?”

Bushore, who lies in the San Fernando Valley, arrives every morning at 7:15 a.m., and leaves the Palisades between 6 and 7 p.m. “I love this school, I love this job,” said the father of a two-year-old and a six-month-old.

Bushore said his enthusiasm caused his father, a CPA, to remark, “I never went to work every day with the excitement I see you go with.”