Get to Know Principal Elizabeth Cunha

October is National Principals Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing short Q&As with each of our principals—giving you a glimpse into their leadership style, favorite parts of school life, and what drives their #PHMExcellence every day.

If you could swap places with a student for one day, what class or activity would you be most excited to participate in — and why?

Piano Lab – I secretly would love to learn how to play piano and this class is so unique and fun to have in a student’s schedule at Discovery, I would absolutely enjoy it!

What’s your go-to morning routine (or must-have snack/coffee order) that helps you tackle the day?

Right now I am really into the iced coffee with vanilla flavor from McDonalds, not just for the taste, but the price….$1.06 with the app – you can’t beat that! Midday I love to order a tea from Discovery’s StarBuddies coffee shop; the price is even better — FREE!

What were you like as a middle or high school student — and what’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

I attended Schmucker MS (because Discovery wasn’t built yet) and Penn HS and I was shy and worried about doing things “right” a lot of the time. I think I would tell my younger self to not be afraid to try new things and try out any sport or club that looks interesting. You never know what will end up being the thing you are passionate about and meet some great friends along the way!

If your job as a principal had a theme song, what song would be your walk up song–the one playing when you walked into school each day?

Unstoppable by Sia

What was your favorite school lunch or snack when you were a student? What is your favorite school lunch now as a principal?

Hands down, the square pizza then and now! I have a lunch account now and eat in the cafeteria regularly and although the walking taco is a close favorite; the school pizza has always been a core memory and I can’t pass it up!

What’s one fun fact about you that most students or staff don’t know?

I am working towards my black belt in Taekwondo along with my three sons. I am currently a brown belt and I recently competed in a tournament and one first place with my weapons form – nunchucks.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies outside of school that might surprise people?

I am fluent in Spanish and love to Latin Dance – salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia; it’s a fun hobby and great music.

What’s one thing on your bucket list you still hope to do one day?

Travel to all 7 continents – I have been to 4 so far!

What’s your favorite school tradition or event?

Discovery does the One Book One School event every year and it is such a great event that brings the whole school together. Everyone in the building reads the same book and we do fun activities like hallway detectives, scavenger hunts, Student and Teacher Trivia Gameshows and the final event – Battle of the Book. So many prizes and everyone is excited and talking about the same book, both staff and students, during that month and half!

If you could describe your school in one word, what would it be?

Excellence