Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) announces Dr. Kurt Suhr as the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education. Dr. Suhr has served NMUSD for more than 25 years, 13 of those years at the district level, most recently as administrative director of elementary education. 

Dr. Suhr, a graduate of NMUSD, has served the district in a variety of capacities, focused on elementary education. Throughout his career at NMUSD, Dr. Suhr served as a teacher, teacher on special assignment with a focus on technology, assistant principal and principal at Rea Elementary School, and principal at Newport Heights Elementary School. He also served districtwide as director of elementary education focused on curriculum and instruction, as well as executive director of elementary education.

While at the district level, Dr. Suhr played an instrumental role in the reopening of schools during the pandemic and has led multiple instructional initiatives including the implementation of state standards. He also led the process to increase instructional minutes at elementary schools and served on instructional materials review committees, the special education task force, and the employee negotiations team. 

As assistant superintendent, Dr. Suhr will be responsible for leading the development, selection, implementation and evaluation of the district’s elementary program, in order to accelerate and enhance student learning for all students. His work will include use of data driven decision making in overseeing transitional kindergarten, early literacy, and other elementary goals and initiatives focused on student success. He also will support principals in achieving school goals, as well as collaborate with school communities to address instructional, social and emotional, and other needs of students and families.

Dr. Suhr obtained his Doctor of Education and Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Irvine, and his Master of Arts from Pepperdine University. He will transition to his new role on July 1, 2023.