Administration

Derek Schuemann, Principal

Derek Schuemann, a native of North Palm Beach and graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School, demonstrates a deep commitment to his community through his dedication to local education. He holds degrees from the University of Florida (BSBA) and Nova Southeastern University (MS in Educational Leadership) and has served Palm Beach County schools since 2004.
At The Conservatory School, his tenure includes seven years as Assistant Principal and his appointment as Principal in 2022, during which he developed the middle grades (6-8) and its athletic department. He fosters a holistic learning environment, embedding the El Sistema philosophy with TCS's mantra of "Play. Passion. Purpose." and ensuring the impactful implementation of project-based learning from Kindergarten through 8th grade.

Rachel Biehl, Assistant Principal

Rachel Biehl is a South Florida native. She attended local schools in Palm Beach County pre-K-12. She is an honors graduate of Florida Atlantic University where she studied Elementary Education and began teaching at The Conservatory School in 2011. She then completed her M. Ed in Educational Leadership at American College of Education. She has served the TCS community as a classroom inclusion and gifted teacher, reading coach, school based team leader, and special education support teacher. 

Mrs. Biehl has been a part of the development of the core values of TCS, project based learning, and the music program since it’s inception. Her love of the arts began at a young age as she played clarinet in the school band starting at the age of 8 and participated in art and theater programs throughout high school. Mrs. Biehl aims to provide students with a space to pursue their passion, cultivate a place for students to use their voice and choice in order to develop and find their purpose through inquiry and questioning while engaging in meaningful and engaging learning opportunities to meet all student needs.

Christopher Cartagena, Assistant Principal

For the last ten years, Mr. Cartagena has been a US History and Debate educator in Palm Beach County. Mr. Cartagena has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Florida and a Masters in Ed Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.

He is a former Palm Beach County student who attended both Bak Middle School of the Arts and Suncoast High School. Having seen firsthand the power of exposing a diverse group of students to a uniquely rigorous academic and fine arts education.