Christopher J. Steinhauser

Christopher J. Steinhauser

1984, M.A., Education-Administration, CSULB
1981, B.A., Liberal Studies-History, CSULB
1979, A.A., History, Long Beach City College

Today Long Beach Superintendent of Schools Christopher J. Steinhauser formally joins the California State University Board of Trustees, following his appointment to the role by Governor Jerry Brown earlier this month.

Christopher J. Steinhauser of Long Beach, has been superintendent of schools at the Long Beach Unified School District since 2002, where he has held several positions since 1990, including deputy superintendent, superintendent, coordinator, director for special projects services and principal at the Signal Hill Elementary School. He is a member of Ronald McDonald House Charities, California Office to Reform Education Districts, Lakewood Rotary Club, Long Beach Better Learning for All Students Today and the Camp Fire USA Board of Directors.

Steinhauser earned a Master of Arts degree in educational administration from California State University, Long Beach. Christopher Steinhauser is superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District, California's third largest, which serves 90,000 kindergarten through high school students on 93 campuses.

Since he was appointed superintendent in 2002, the district has been nominated three times for the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education. The district was the recipient in 2003, winning $500,000 for student scholarships.

Steinhauser has also been instrumental in enhancing the partnership between the district, Long Beach City College and CSULB. He is a longtime resident of Long Beach and a 26-year veteran educator in local schools. He is also a product of the Long Beach Unified School District, where he attended continuously from kindergarten through graduation from Wilson High School in 1977.

Beginning his career as an elementary school teacher, he was promoted to various administrative positions, including principal, Area C superintendent and, in 1999, deputy superintendent. During his years as deputy superintendent, students in all major racial and ethnic groups throughout the district made unprecedented gains on rigorous state tests.

He has established a strong track record of boosting achievement in all geographic areas of the school district--central, west, north and east Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood and on Catalina Island. Steinhauser is married to Alida, also a CSULB graduate. They have two children: Edward, who is attending Boston College; and Patricia, who goes to San Francisco State. Steinhauser was named the College of Education's 2003 Distinguished Alumnus.

From Alumni Awards 2003 program