Our Team

Meet Our Principal

Dr. Rachana Sidhu

Dr. Rachana Sidhu brings more than 20 years of experience in education to her role as Principal of South Oceanside Elementary School. Her career spans the classroom, instructional coaching, and educational leadership, including service as a Biology teacher, ELPAC Program Administrator for San Francisco Unified School District, where she oversaw testing across 120 school sites, and elementary school principal in both San Francisco Unified and Davis Joint Unified School Districts. Most recently, she served as a Continuous Improvement Consultant with the Kings County Office of Education.

Dr. Sidhu earned her doctorate from the USC Rossier School of Education. Her dissertation examined the factors influencing elementary principal retention and their impact on school stability and student outcomes. She is a strong advocate for equity-driven, culturally responsive instruction and has extensive expertise in supporting English Learners and administering large-scale ELPAC programs.

Dr. Sidhu also has a personal connection to the San Diego community. She attended UC San Diego and lived in the area for seven years. She considers her return to the region, and to Oceanside Unified School District, a full-circle homecoming and is excited to partner with students, families, staff, and the community to help every student thrive.

Assistant Principal

Jim Riggenbach
jim.riggenbach@oside.us