New Associate Principal Laura Lee plans to implement policies to reduce student stress without negatively impacting their academic performance.

Before arriving at Campolindo this fall, Lee worked at South San Francisco High School.  She has also worked at the San Mateo County Office of Education. “It was like working with 23 different Acalanes Union High School Districts, so it was a really big perspective,” she said.

Lee feels fortunate to have the opportunity to work at Campolindo. “Everybody’s super helpful. While I’m out doing things, multiple students stopped and offered to help me, which was really nice,” she said.

While part of her job is to enforce campus rules and handle discipline, most of Lee’s interactions with students are positive. Senior Mina Boozarpour said, “I see her in the halls all the time, and she’s always ready to help struggling students and give directions.”

In Lee’s short time on campus she has already picked up on the excessive pressure under which students operate.  She is hopeful that she can contribute to a reduction of academic-related anxiety on campus and is encouraged by the steps the district has recently taken to address the issue.

Junior John Stepp said, ”This has been a pretty big issue with Campo for a long time, considering how academically oriented we are.” 

“I’ve seen how hard it has gotten to get into college now, and it creates a lot more stress for the students,” said Lee. She plans to build on some of the other preemptive stress-reducing programs the school has put in place, like the Wellness Center.

Not everyone thinks that eliminating stress should be a top priority however. Sophomore Noam Ayalon said, “I think it would be really nice if we could remove stress, but people should be stressed in high school. It’s a stressful time.”

Ayalon believes that reducing stress will have unintended consequences, like a drop in test scores.

Lee, however, remains committed to reducing student stress and looks forward to working with students and staff.