With the news of Patricia Jolly’s impending retirement at the end of the 2013-14 school year, Gilroy Unified School District is now in the market for its third principal in three years at Christopher High School.
Jolly, previously CHS assistant principal of curriculum and Instruction since the summer of 2009, took over the top spot as principal at Gilroy’s $110 million high school at 850 Day Road in June 2013. John Perales was the school’s first principal in the summer of 2008 and remained at the post until being promoted to the GUSD district office.
Jolly’s retirement is listed in the personnel items for the March 20 Board of Education agenda.
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.
Paul Winslow, CHS English Department Chair at that time, was later promoted to Jolly’s assistant position alongside CHS Assistant Principal Greg Kapaku, who is in charge of discipline.
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, recently left his position as GUSD’s Director of Human Resources for Certificated Staff after being selected as the new Superintendent of Schools for the San Benito High School District in Hollister.
