Gilroy School District To Honor High Achievers

GILROY, CA -- The Gilroy Unified School District will honor the award recipients of the Employee Recognition Program at its 7 p.m. Thursday board meeting by Superintendent Deborah A. Flores and Board of Trustees.

The honorees were chosen from the district's four bargaining units – Stuart Hults, California School Employees Association; Vania Alvarez, Gilroy Federation of Paraeducators; Connie Mendoza, Gilroy Teachers Association; and Patricia Pelino from management.

The vision of the program developed by Flores and trustees works to recognize the valuable contributions to the district’s students, schools and community by staff members. Unlike traditional means, the program allows any staff member, regardless of position and bargaining unit, to nominate another staff person for their contributions and hard work.

“As always with these types of programs, it was a difficult decision because so many of our staff make incredible contributions in their own individual way on a daily basis benefiting our students, staff and community. I am thrilled with the four individuals who we are recognizing and am proud of their contributions to the district,” Flores said.

March 2019 Award Recipients

• Stuart Hults (CSEA), Mechanic for the GUSD Transportation Department; nominated by Supervisor Trish Tice and colleagues Cory Samuelson and Fabiola Mateos Rivera, for 31 years of service to the District and his visible support for school bus drivers and the students of Gilroy Unified School District.
• Vania Alvarez (GFP), Special Education Paraeducator at Ascension Solorsano Middle School; nominated by Special Education teacher, Jenna Gutierrez, because she is the epitome of someone who gives herself to others and because she goes above and beyond to help foresee the needs of the students and staff.
• Connie Mendoza (GTA), dual immersion third grade teacher at Rod Kelley Elementary School; nominated by third-grade teacher, Jennifer Roderick, for her patience and sense of humor that helps her team get through the tough days as well as her willingness to listen to new ideas.
• Patricia Pelino (Management), Principal of Eliot Elementary School; nominated by Eliot Lit Facilitator, Reilly McBride for her drive to find ways to improve as a leader or improve her school site.

For additional information about the Employee Recognition Program, visit www.GilroyUnified.org/employeerecognition. Award nomination submissions may be viewed at www.GilroyUnified.org/awardrecipients