Steve Ahle, Class of 1971.
Self-described “techie” and “student for life,” Steve Ahle (St. Anthony Class of 1971) was named a 2006 National Distinguished Principal – one of only 66 principals across the nation. Awarded by the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the honor is granted to one principal from each state as well as state department and defense schools.
Steve Ahle shows the "Golden Bell" and Certificate received as one of the 66 National Distinguished Principals in 2006.
Born and raised in Long Beach, Steve is one of 11 children. Seven of them still live in Southern California, three live in Texas, and one lives in Washington. The Ahle brothers inhabited St. Anthony College Prep for more than a decade (Steve's brothers and their graduation year: Dave '74, Pat '76, Tim '78, Joe '79, Matt '81, and Andy '82).
Steve was a busy athlete for the Saints during his time on campus. The first of the seven Ahle boys to attend SA, played Frosh football (until he broke his leg), then played basketball for three years, and ran track (long jump, high jump, 440 relay, 100 yard dash) as a senior making the league finals in the 100 yard dash (yes, back then that is what it was called). Since SA did not have a volleyball team, Steve join the Long Beach Rec team with some other SA kids and ended up coming in second in the nation.
More Than "Just An Athlete"
Steve received a math scholarship in eighth grade when he finished third at the St. Cyprian Math Field Day contest so all of his math books at St. Anthony College Prep were free. He also won Engineering and Mechanical Drawing Awards as a senior, and Brother Dennis had him do the floor plans for a key system he instituted at SA in 1971.
Steve tells a funny story about the key system project for Brother Dennis:
Brother Dennis was in charge of all the keys to the locks in the school. I had a project from Bro Mel (mechanical drawing class, I finished the year’s work in a semester) so I had a hall pass to draw up the floor plans of the school. I was given the freedom to pick other students to help me with the measuring. We all were roaming together and Bro Freddie, Dean of Students at the time, came walking down the hall. Mark Portner, Jim Flannigan, and Bim Mais were with me. We couldn't come up with a good enough story and tried to avoid him. So they ducked into the a room where they we holding cheer leader tryouts! All of the other guys did better than I did and won the job of cheer leader or mascot. At least that is how I remember it. It runs with the statement 'The older I get, the Better I was' syndrome. That’s my story and I am sticking to it."
It sounds like among other things, Steve listens to some of that good ol' country music too!
College Life
After graduation St. Anthony College Prep in 1971, Steve attended California State University, Long Beach, and was in the Sigma Pi Fraternity. He played on the 49er volleyball team for two years. He graduated with both a Bachelors of Arts and Masters of Arts degree in Physical Education in 1978, was a graduate assistant and supervised the operation of the Sensory Motor Institute, and received a Special Education/Adaptive P.E. certification.
Ahle completed his credential work at the University of California, Irvine, for both his elementary level and administration credentials while he was teaching kindergarten, first and second grades.
Professional Educator
Steve began his administrative career in the Capistrano Unified School District in 1980, where in his spare time he coached high school volleyball at Dana Hills High School. In his last year as coach, the team was ranked sixth in the State.
In 1982 Steve joined the Carlsbad Unified School District as principal of Pine Elementary School. From 1989 to 1999, Ahle worked as principal of Pine and Jefferson schools. He opened Pacific Rim Elementary School, a suburban K-5 school, as its Principal in 1999 and has worked there ever since.
Mr. Ahle Goes To Washington
Ahle, his wife Debi joined the other 65 Distinguished Principals in Washington, D.C. 
back in October, 2006 for the formal presentation of the Award. The National Association of Elementary School Principals selects a principal from each state and Washington, D.C., annually for the award, which is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. (See Mr. Ahle Goes/Went to Washington)
Learning From His Past
Ahle has said he learned lessons as a student that serve him today as a principal, a university instructor, a karate black belt and a champion of student learning.
“I basically spent the whole fourth grade in the principal's office,” said Ahle, “There was no focus on learning. They just tried to control me.”
Now, as an educational leader, Ahle says he questions national, state and district policies. His goal is not to annoy, but to raise questions that he believes result in greater student learning.
A Teacher Still
Ahle instructs teacher candidates at Cal State San Marcos and Mira Costa College, and said he enjoys working with teacher candidates and new teachers. Steve’s philosophy is to let his teachers take risks “if it doesn't cost much money, isn't illegal, and is tied to student learning.” His high expectations for himself and others have served him well in his years as a principal.
“I learned long ago that the best way to exhibit leadership is to make sure that everyone around me owns what we are doing with the students at school each day.”
Proof His Philosophy Works
All three schools that Ahle has led have earned statewide recognition and 80 percent of the 843 students at Pacific Rim have been ranked as proficient or advanced in literacy testing by the second grade. The school boasts an extensive after-school program in which Ahle, who holds a black belt in karate, provides martial arts instruction.
Pacific Rim enjoys a high level of parent involvement, with a volunteer program that 
recorded 20,000 hours of school assistance in the 2005-2006 school year. Using parent volunteers as reading assistants, Steve was able to successfully initiate a program to ensure that all first graders will read by the time they move on to second grade.
Pacific Rim through Ahle’s openness and encouragement receives more than 1,600 hours/month of volunteer time from students’ parents, families, and the community for the past five years. Where the average elementary school receives about 4,000 volunteers hours per year, Steve encourages his parents to champion projects and programs – he says that “as long as it doesn't cost me anything and is legal” he is all for it. The 850 students at the six year old school certainly benefit from his open approach.
We can’t wait for funding for some of the things the parents and volunteers do for the students – if we wait, we miss them.
Steve and his wife Debi live in Carlsbad with their two children, Lexi and Jordan. In his spare time Steve loves golf, surfing, beach volleyball, ping pong, fishing, working with computers and technology. He received his black belt in 2003, through North County Martial Arts in La Costa in the Soo Bahk Do Karate form. He then tested for the E Dan level July 2005 as a part of the next level of promotion requirements necessary for the Tang Soo Do Karate form.
