La Habra City School District Press Release

Cathy Seighman, Principal of Imperial Middle School, announces her retirement after 35 years of service

La Habra, CA - Cathy Seighman, Principal of Imperial Middle School (IMS), has announced that she will retire after a 35-year educational career in the La Habra City School District. Ms. Seighman will continue to serve as principal until the end of the school year. 

Ms. Seighman began her career in La Habra in 1986 when she was hired as a long-term substitute teacher at IMS. The following year she became a permanent teacher at the school, teaching both physical education and math for 13 years. Ms. Seighman was promoted to assistant principal at IMS in 1999. Five years later, in 2004, she was named principal and has served in that capacity for the last 18 years.

“It has been an honor to work at Imperial Middle School for my entire educational career.  We have developed into a family that has accomplished great things for our students and the community of La Habra, most recently becoming an International Baccalaureate Middle Years World School,” Ms. Seighman said. “I am proud to be a part of multiple generations of students at Imperial.  I have enjoyed watching our students develop into adults and in turn educating their children and even a few grandchildren, as well.”

Ms. Seighman earned a Master’s Degree in Education with a Middle School Emphasis from California State University, San Bernardino and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Azusa Pacific University. Ms. Seighman also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from California State University, Fullerton. In January of 2022, after many months of dedicated work and preparation, Ms. Seighman and her IMS team were authorized as an International Baccalaureate Middle Years World School.

“The La Habra City School District will always have a special place in my heart and as I have said many times before, once a Knight always a Knight.” - Cathy Seighman

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