Meet Dougherty Elementary School Principal Catherine Ward-Mikes

Dougherty Elementary School’s new principal, Catherine Ward-Mikes, originally planned to be a dentist. Working as a substitute teacher at her children’s school changed that plan and education became her calling. Catherine earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and a master’s degree in education from Chapman University. Dougherty Elementary School’s former principal, Lynn Medici, moved to Kolb Elementary School earlier this year (Kolb is Dublin’s newest elementary school – read more…)

Catherine has taught at the elementary and secondary levels, and has been the principal of schools at all levels – elementary, K-8, junior high and high school (most recently Catherine was principal of Newark Junior High School – read more…). Along the way Catherine has worked in affluent school districts and socio-economically challenged districts. This diverse experience has provided her with unique insights on how to educate children from all backgrounds.

Catherine chose to join the Dublin Unified School District because of a shared vision on how to educate children, the child-centric approach of the District and the focus on Professional Learning Communities (PLC).

Catherine will soon be celebrating 21 years of marriage and has three children (a son in college, and a son and daughter in high school). The Ward-Mikes family currently lives in Concord.