Salvatore Tomasello has announced he will be retiring from
Ascencion Solorsano Middle School on the school’s website.
Tomasello has been serving the Gilroy Unified School District as a
teacher, coach and principal since 1972.
”
Yes, after 39 years with the GUSD I will be retiring, effective
June 30,2011. My plans are to continue to support the GUSD in any
capacity in which I have an opportunity.
”
Salvatore Tomasello has announced he will be retiring from Ascencion Solorsano Middle School.
Tomasello has been serving the Gilroy Unified School District as a teacher and coach since 1978, and also served as an athletic director beginning in 1984 for 16 years.
“It is the right time to retire for me,” he said over the phone Wednesday. “My wife has been retired for a year and a half. It’s time for us to move on to the next phase of our life together.”
Tomasello added he has three grandchildren in GUSD – two who will be attending Ascencion Solorsano next year – and that he is looking forward to spending more time with them.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “There’s a part of me that’s not ready to retire, but I know it’s the right time. I’m healthy, we’ve planned well and we want to do some traveling.”
Tomasello has taught at Brownell Middle School and was the athletic director at Gilroy High School, where he instrumental in shaping the school’s athletic programs. He was also the assistant principal of South Valley Junior High School before he was chosen to be principal of Gilroy’s newest middle school, Ascension Solorsano.
Tomasello was named the 2010 Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Spice of Life Educator of the Year after taking Solorsano past the 800 Academic Performance Index mark, the goal set for all public schools by the state of California.
Currently, his campus has an API score of 814.
Under his tenure, Solorsano has also been recognized with the California Title I Academic Achievement Award and the California Distinguished School Award.
Tomasello has also been awarded Middle School Principal of the Year for Region 8, Santa Clara County, by the Association of California School Administrators.
“I will stay involved,” he said, adding that he’ll relish the reduced stress levels. “That’s what I’ll be looking forward to the most. I’m gonna miss the kids and staff. We have a wonderful staff.”
