John Perales, who has been at the helm of Christopher High School since its opening in 2009, took another step up the career ladder when the Gilroy Unified School District’s Board of Education voted June 20 to appoint him as their first Director of Human Resources for Certificated Staff.
“I’ve always envisioned my career would take that path with a move to the district office,” said Perales, who will be departing CHS after five years, which includes time spent preparing prior to the school’s opening in 2009. “I eventually want to be a superintendent, so I see this as the next logical step in my path.”
During Thursday’s regular meeting, the Board first unanimously approved to create the new position that pays $165,000 annually, then promoted Perales from his principal post at CHS.
The district, which in December was assigned a county fiscal adviser to help get GUSD’s troubled financial house in order, recently passed a list of $2 million in budget cuts for the next school year, including the elimination of all library clerks. GUSD also finalized on April 25 $174,056 in cuts to the district office. As for how Perales’ new salaried position fits into the budget equation, the Dispatch attempted to follow up Wednesday with Flores, but she was out of the office for the next two weeks.
Perales, who starts his new job July 1, will oversee 570 certificated employees, which includes teachers, nurses and counselors. He’ll be working with Director of Human Resources Kim Filice, who will do the same for classified personnel. This includes school clerks, bus drivers, cooks and office coordinators, as well as paraprofessionals.
Filice was previously responsible for complete human resources oversight the last three years after the district eliminated the position of Assistant Superintendent Human Resources due to state budget setbacks.
However, “the workload is so great that it requires 12 hours or more per day and work on the weekends,” according to GUSD’s June 20 meeting agenda. “One person simply cannot do all the work associated with these two positions.”
GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores said she and Perales “have been talking for well over a year about him eventually moving into the district office.”
Flores contacted every principal in the district to gauge their interest in the new position. Perales made his interest known right away.
“This is a very logical step for him,” Flores added. “He’s a strong supporter of our school district and having him on our team is going to be a wonderful addition.”
Patricia Jolly, CHS’s assistant principal of Curriculum and Instruction since the summer of 2009, will take over the top spot at Gilroy’s $110 million high school at 850 Day Road.
“Obviously, I have deep roots in Gilroy and am passionate about what we’ve done at Christopher High School,” Perales said. “I want to continue to see them thrive and do well, and I couldn’t think of any better candidate for the position than Patti.”
Prior to joining the CHS team, Jolly spent eight years as the regional coordinator for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. She also banked 16 years at San Jose’s Bellarmine College Prep as an English teacher and community service learning director.
“It’s very exciting,” said Jolly of her promotion at CHS. “I was thrilled to be considered and offered the opportunity.”
Flores said she and Perales discussed his replacement before his promotion was made official.
“I’m very confident that Patti Jolly is the right person to follow John. She has been there from the get-go,” Flores said. “She’s a very strong administrator and especially strong in the curriculum and instruction area. I have no doubt she’ll do a great job and this will be a very smooth transition.”
That “smooth transition” is something Paul Winslow, English Department chair and president of the Gilroy Teachers Association, is 100 percent confident in.
“She’s amazing. She’s going to do a great job,” said Winslow of Jolly. “(Perales and Jolly) always worked as a team, so the transition will definitely be smooth…she’ll definitely add her own flair, too.”
CHS Athletic Director Darren Yafai said Perales’ promotion is “bittersweet” because he won’t get to see his long-time friend and colleague every morning anymore. However, knowing Perales’ desire to advance his career, Yafai is glad the man he once coached as a high school football player at GHS, later hired as part of his GHS coaching staff, and then worked together in the social studies department at GHS is staying in the district.
“I knew it was his dream to go into administration and move on…so I was worried that we might lose him,” said Yafai, who was Perales’ first hire five years ago when the district was putting together the original CHS staff. “It’s a win-win all around because our community and district get to keep a guy like that and it allows him to still forward his career.”
Yafai credited Perales, as well as Jolly, for creating a wonderful atmosphere and culture at CHS – one that Perales knows Jolly will continue to nurture in her new role.
“She’s been a huge part of building the culture of Christopher High. She has ownership in it,” said Yafai, noting that maintaining continuity among the leadership at CHS is key. “She’s a very experienced administrator and very well-respected…everybody loves her.”
Flores is now seeking out internal candidates to become Jolly’s new assistant principal at CHS alongside Assistant Principal Greg Kapaku, who is in charge of discipline. There are many GUSD teachers who recently finished their administration certification or other district administrators who may want to make the next step in their careers, Flores said.
“We have a number of people who are ready to move into administrative roles or move from one level to another,” said Flores, who hopes to fill the position by the third week of July.
A GUSD high school principal’s pay scale is based on experience and ranges from $107,392 to $127,727, while a GUSD assistant principal’s salary ranges from $92,050 to $105,152. There is also a $1,000 stipend for holding a Master’s Degree and $1,500 for a Doctorate.
Perales, a Gilroy native and Gilroy High School alumnus, considers it “a great opportunity” to be mentored by Filice and Flores and “really begin to learn that aspect of education.”
“I’ve always envisioned having to leave Gilroy Unified to take this next step. This is an opportunity to stay in Gilroy,” said Perales, who was formerly the principal at South Valley Middle School before moving to CHS. “I was a difficult decision for me to make…I love the students and the staff there and really enjoyed what we built.”
He added that “reflecting on his own career path” is what swayed him to make the move to the district office. Perales has worked in a myriad of district positions, including principal of and social studies teacher at Mount Madonna Continuation School and football coach and world history teacher at GHS.
“He’s always wanted to see people grow (in their careers), so everybody wants to see him grow,” said Winslow, who was glad to hear Perales was progressing professionally, but also staying local. “He’s a huge asset.”
Another two staffers hired on at district offices
Also at the June 20 board meeting, Alvaro Meza was unanimously voted in as the new Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at GUSD’s district office. Meza, who held the same position for the Santa Cruz city schools, lives in Gilroy and has children who will soon attend GUSD schools.
“We’re very excited to have him join us on July 9,” said Flores, who is looking for stability in the district’s business office after the county took control of GUSD’s finances in December.
The district also recently hired Barbara Brown, who previously worked in the Salinas area as a principal and Director of Special Education, as GUSD’s next Director of Student Services.
“So we have three new members of our cabinet,” said Flores, “and we’re very excited to have them join us.”
