About Us / Principal's Message

Meet Mr. Kaatz

Welcome ‘Cub Families’ to our 2024-25 school year. I’d like to thank you for choosing Sunset Heights Elementary School and share just how excited I am about this year. It’s an honor to be your principal, and I’m looking forward to building a partnership with you to support the success of our students.

Here is a little bit about how I arrived at Sunset Heights. I joined Peoria Unified School District in 2022 when my family moved here from Oregon. I was appointed as Assistant Principal for Cheyenne Elementary School where I served alongside Principal Aubree Wells for the last two years. Prior to my tenure in Peoria, I served as an assistant principal at a middle school in Albany and served as an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Silverton High School, spanning a total of 9 years in these positions. I also spent 5 years as a principal at a K-2 Elementary School in Silverton focusing on early childhood development and growth. Prior to my administration experience, I was a Special Education Teacher, 7-12 PE/Health Teacher, and served as a K-6 PE/Health Teacher from 1999-2008.