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GUSD Communications
At the October 17, 2024 regular meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed Jorge Huapaya as the new Food Service Supervisor for the Gilroy Unified School District.
Jorge has over ten years of experience in the food service industry. His career started in 2011 when he started working for food chains. In 2013 he moved into the health care world and worked at Stanford Hospital for seven years where he learned about different cuisines, bulk cooking and its challenges.
Throughout Jorge’s career, he has served important guests such as football players, movie stars, and other celebrities, and has worked with reputable chefs throughout the Bay Area.
Before coming to the Gilroy Unified School District, Jorge served as Kitchen Operator IV for the Santa Clara Unified School District for 2 ½ years where he developed a passion for child nutrition, and developed strong relationships with the SCUSD staff and management team.
Jorge is passionate about helping students eat more nutritional foods and enjoys working with his team. Jorge has a wife, son and two daughters and they have lived in Gilroy since 2022. His son, Daniel, is a student at South Valley Middle School, and his daughter, Sarah, is in 3rd grade at Rod Kelley Elementary School.
- press release
GUSD Communications
On August 13, 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Girls’ Tech Series Camp STEAM brought together more than 115 incoming sixth-grade girls from Gilroy Unified School District to inspire and motivate them to pursue interests in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Girls’ Tech Camp STEAM is a free, half-day learning event that focuses on each STEAM area, with activities designed to educate, and enjoyed. Students came together at South Valley Middle School for a day filled with hands-on STEAM inspired activities, and to meet other students interested in the same areas.
“AWS InCommunities has made it a priority to support a variety of initiatives to help create the next generation of creative thinkers and future builders in the communities we call home,” said Paul Butler, community engagement manager for AWS InCommunities. “Women represent a quarter or less of workers in computing and engineering despite making up half of the workforce, and we want to do our part to inspire and support these students. We must continue developing and encouraging girls and young women to see the opportunities in tech.”
Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent, Anisha Munshi, welcomed students to the day, and in her opening remarks, she challenged attendees to closely examine the opportunities presented to them at Camp STEAM, because careers in STEAM are everywhere. She reminded the girls, “You are the leaders of tomorrow, and we want to see you in those positions that you should consider as next generation STEAM experts.”
Girls participated in interactive workshops that included programming a robot through simple coding, learned about animal husbandry and got up close and personal at a small petting zoo, designed and created their own art projects, built a simple electric circuit to create light-up greeting cards, and more. Given the rich history of agriculture in the area, specifically garlic growing and processing, all students left Camp STEAM with a DIY science kit that explored the science behind garlic.
GUSD STEAM Coordinator, and former fifth grade teacher, Jennifer Evans shared, “Camp STEAM is an important event for our rising sixth grade girls as they transition to middle school. We know that middle school is when girls’ interest in math and science begins to wane, as their academic confidence might decrease. We want to support all GUSD students in STEAM pursuits, and this event was the perfect introduction to the future career possibilities for attendees.”
AWS Girls’ Tech Series Camp STEAM is part of a collection of activities AWS is spearheading to support STEAM education in the Bay Area. In 2023, AWS hosted over 600 girls and young women from Hayward Unified School District at the Tech Interactive museum in San Jose, California for a Girls’ Tech Day. In addition to the Girls’ Tech Series Camp STEAM in Gilroy, AWS launched a $100,000 Gilroy community fund via nonprofit ChangeX to provide grants to local organizations and individuals driving positive impact in their communities.
GUSD Communications
Shannon Rafat joins the Gilroy Unified School District leadership team after spending 11 years as a parent, teacher, and school leader with the Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD). She began her career teaching in 1997 and has taught multiple grades in Nevada and Alaska before moving to the South Bay. During her teaching career, she has received a Districtwide Teacher of the Year Award in Denali School District (2001) and a Teacher of the Year Award at San Martin/Gwinn (2017) in MHUSD.
Shannon received her Master of Arts in Curriculum, Technology, and Instruction in 2002 and completed her Leadership Credential through the Santa Clara County Office of Education in 2016. In 2022, she completed a trainer program in restorative practices through the International Institute of Restorative Practices.
Most recently she has led two schools that have dual language programs, and her daughter who attended one of those schools, is graduating from high school this year with her bilingual attainment award. As a San Martin resident, she looks forward to engaging with the Gilroy and the Las Animas communities.
Shannon and her husband, an educator at San Jose City College, have two daughters. Her oldest daughter is finishing her fourth year as a student-athlete in Brooklyn, New York, and her youngest daughter will attend San Diego State University in the fall. She enjoys traveling, reading, and being outdoors.
GUSD Communications
On May 22, 2024 Christopher High School was placed on code blue lockdown, as Gilroy Police Department and the Gilroy Fire Department responded to an incident involving two students which resulted in one student being stabbed by the other.
Christopher High School staff and the School Resource Officers quickly intervened, and code blue protocols were enacted campus-wide at approximately 11:58 am.
The victim was transported to a local hospital, and the suspect was arrested. The code blue was lifted at 12:58 pm as first responders completed their investigation.
Counselors are onsite at Christopher High to provide support to students requesting it. District leadership are also onsite to provide support through the end of the school day.
GUSD Communications
At the May 2, 2024 regular meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed two administrators to the GUSD leadership team: Lisa Aguerria, Principal at Luigi Aprea Elementary School, and Nicole Babcock, Accounting Supervisor. "We are so excited to have Lisa Aguerria and Nicole Babcock join our leadership team," shared Superintendent Anisha Munshi. Both new administrators begin their role on July 1, 2024.
Lisa Aguerria, Principal, Luigi Aprea Elementary School
During her tenure as Principal of Burnett Middle School, Lisa implemented innovative strategies to enhance academic rigor, foster a positive school culture, and increase parental involvement. In her current capacity as Assistant Superintendent at the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Lisa oversees a broad spectrum of responsibilities, including curriculum development, instructional leadership, and equity initiatives, TK-12. Notably, she served as the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education for three years.
Lisa's dedication to professional growth is evident in her pursuit of advanced training and certifications. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership & Administration from San Jose State University and has completed prestigious programs at Stanford University, including the EdLEADers Professional Certificate Program and the Principal Fellows Program.
Ms. Aguerria is thrilled to become a part of the vibrant Luigi Aprea School Community. Go Bulldogs!
Nicole Babock, Accounting Supervisor
Nicole is driven by a strong dedication to promoting ongoing learning and professional development. She is passionate about contributing to the success and financial well-being of our community’s schools.
Nicole is excited and eager to contribute her skills and experience in the role as the Accounting Supervisor. Nicole resides in Gilroy with her husband, and is the proud mother of two adult daughters, both Gilroy Unified School District graduates. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys working out, hiking and the outdoors. Additionally she loves spending time with her family and animals. She is a huge football fan and loves cheering on her favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers.
- press release
For media requests regarding the Gilroy Unified School District and our school communities, please contact Melanie Corona, Public Information Officer.