Leigh Schwartz, the newest addition to El Roble Elementary,
circulates through picnic tables full of second and third graders
munching P
&
amp;Js at lunchtime. He stops at every table to chat with the
kids.
By Sara Suddes Special to the Dispatch
Gilroy – Leigh Schwartz, the newest addition to El Roble Elementary, circulates through picnic tables full of second and third graders munching P&Js at lunchtime. He stops at every table to chat with the kids.
An educator for 20 years, Schwartz, 50, is the new principal at El Roble.
“He’s great with the kids,” Nancy Fernandez, crossing guard and lunch supervisor at El Roble, said of Schwartz. “He’s out here every day at lunch.”
When comparing his first two weeks as principal of El Roble with his previous job, Schwartz said they are completely different jobs.
“I was often away from campus at meetings, and I’m enjoying being able to interact with the children more here,” he said.
He came from the Mesa Union School District in Ventura County, a district with only one school. And Schwartz was its principal. Located in between two lemon orchards, Mesa Union is a K-8 school of 600 students.
After a year at Mesa Union, Schwartz decided to relocate for a number of reasons, including the rising cost of living in Ventura County and the rapidly increasing population that spills over from Los Angeles. He and his wife were attracted to Gilroy’s close proximity to San Francisco, Yosemite and the Napa Valley. His family will remain in Ventura County for now so that his daughter, a senior in high school, and son, a fifth grader, can finish out the school year. Once his family does move, however, Schwartz and his wife would like to stay in the area permanently for the sake of their school-aged son.
Fortunately for Schwartz, the position of principal at El Roble Elementary had opened up when the previous principal accepted a position in the Oak Grove School District in San Jose in August. Schwartz moved north to the Gilroy Unified School District to fill the position.
With a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from California Lutheran University, and a California Clear Credential and Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from California State University, Long Beach, Schwartz earns an annual salary of $107,000 as principal of El Roble. His year long contract expires June 30, 2008, after which he will be re-evaluated.
There were many candidates competing for the position at El Roble. Schwartz was chosen above the rest because of his experience with both elementary and middle school aged children and his ability to work with people, particularly staff, according to Michael Lyons, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Gilroy Unified School District.
“He stood out among all the principals we interviewed and came highly recommended by his two former superintendents,” said Lyons. “He is cordial, professional, very intelligent, and understands how the education system works.”
Coming from a school with stellar test scores, Schwartz faces a daunting task at El Roble. The diverse population of the school, with 69 percent Hispanic or Latino students and 43 percent still learning English, makes it difficult to address the needs of all the students in the same classroom.
“We work together to address every students’ needs,” Schwartz said, nodding toward the rows of animated children. When the kids get a bit too rambunctious, Schwartz holds up two fingers in the peace sign and the children follow suit, quieting down. “The first day I was out here, it was a free for all!” he laughed.
“He’s fun and he doesn’t yell at us,” said Brianna Caspary, a second grader at El Roble.
“I like how he talks to us at lunch,” Jordan Arias, 7, said. “He’s kinda funny and nice.”
In addition to the core educational program that every student at El Roble is required to complete, enrichment classes are available as well as programs geared toward children who have been identified as gifted and talented. Having taught music for 15 years, Schwartz advocates a stronger arts and music program at El Roble.
“Music, and the arts in general, is one of the programs I want to boost,” said Schwartz, who plays the tuba. “We have the beginnings of something good, but I want to establish a more comprehensive program.”
On the other end of the spectrum, El Roble educates a large number of students who are learning English as a second language. The school employs a number of English language specialists to assist in the English Language Development program, a state requirement of all school-aged English learners.
These targeted teaching techniques progress with the children as they move from kindergarten to fifth grade at El Roble. Additionally, Schwartz emphasized the importance of the No Child Left Behind Act that was passed in 2001.
The NCLB Act is a federal program that sets a standard of achievement that the staff of El Roble Elementary, led by Schwartz, is committed to upholding in each of its students.
The Act breaks the traditional bell curve theory that writes students off as underachievers. It sets a standard that aims to prevent children from slipping through the educational cracks, according to Schwartz.
“We are not going to let children fail,” Schwartz promised. “Every child will be proficient.”
