Failure to launch charter school
Rocketship Education has pulled its charter petition to open an elementary school within the Morgan Hill Unified School District boundaries by fall 2014.
Two Gavilan College employees recognized for dedicated service
A pair of retiring Gavilan College employees—Rachel Perez and Natalie Miranda-Juarez—were recognized at the July Board of Trustees’ meeting for their more than four decades of service in education.The duo received framed certificates of recognition handed out by Daniel Dodge, aide to California Assemblymember Luis Alejo, who represents the assembly’s 30th district.Perez, who most recently served as Interim Dean of Student Learning and Engagement, has held various positions at Gavilan since 1993, including Director of Extended Opportunities Programs and Services, Director of Special Projects, and Acting Vice President of Student Services.The long-time leader developed Gavilan’s Noncredit Education Program, establishing the Computer Technology Center in partnership with Gilroy Unified School District, where adults learn English for the workplace and citizenship, and prepare for GED exams, according to a press release from Gavilan College staff.Prior to joining the Gavilan College staff, Perez—who holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Counseling and Student Personnel from San Jose State University as well as a California Standard Teaching Credential in Secondary Teaching—worked as a teacher, counselor and administrator for GUSD.Juarez—who holds an Associate of Art degree in Liberal Arts from Gavilan—was hired in 1972 as an Administrative Secretary while still a Gavilan student. She has also held Gavilan positions as Financial Aid Assistant, Instructional Secretary, and Senior Departmental Assistant. For the past seven years, she’s worked as a Program Services Specialist at Gavilan’s Hollister campus.
Scholarships and smiles at annual Senior Awards
A standing room-only crowd of family members and school staff
Student of the Week: Timothy Garber, 12th grade, GECA
What inspires you?My friend David Julian. Even when things look bad, he always seems to have a quiet confidence that no matter what happens, things will be OK. Whenever he speaks during class, the entire classroom becomes silent for him, as if everyone knows that what he is about to say is important. These speeches are incredible, ranging from short one-liners to full-on presentations - each one perfectly executed and perfectly fit for the situation at hand. He has traveled to many different countries, expertly picking up on both languages and their respective accents. He finds time for doing homework, coaching hockey, and studying for ACADEC, sometimes all in the same day. His dedication to what he does and to what he believes inspires me almost daily, and I am happy to call this man my friend.What is your favorite subject?Currently I am enrolled in a Philosophy class at Gavilan College, and it has to be one of my favorite classes this year. Because the course is titled “Contemporary Moral Issues”, I am able to be exposed to the issues in race, wealth, class, gender, and other modern concerns that our generation faces. I am pleased to be a part of this class not only because I have the chance to input my own thoughts in a discussion, but because I am able to hear and appreciate new issues to which I was previously ignorant.If you had the power to change one thing, what would it be?History.If you could go anywhere, where would you go?Home. The want to go home is not one that will fall away over time. One does not visit his or her home as one would visit a tourist location, going simply for the experience and exposure to new things. Rather, the want to go home increases with this experience and exposure. As people have been pushed through hardships in life, ranging from surgery to kidnapping to war, the common phrase becomes clear: “I just want to go home”. If I no longer want to return home, it is evidence of either a new home or a lack of hardships.Name one big challenge in your life right now:Graduating.What is your dream job?Having fun and getting paid for it.Something that makes you smile:
