Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez, Director of Administrative Services, has been named Central Office Administrator of the Year by the Western Riverside County Association of School Managers.
WRCASM, a regional branch of the Association of California School Administrators – the nation's largest umbrella group of school administrators – comprises 11 Inland school districts and the Riverside County Office of Education. Ms. Garza-Gonzalez was honored April 10th at the annual WRCASM Awards and Scholarship dinner at Harrison Hall in Perris. She has been recognized for exemplary leadership and ensuring student learning without limits.
About our Winner
Ms. Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez, a Jurupa educator since 1997, has served JUSD as a teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, and the district's Director of Administrative Services.
In her current role, Ms. Garza-Gonzalez has pioneered and/or overseen multiple award-winning programs, including:
Student Youth Court which supports improvement – rather than punishment – for students in grades 7-12 who admit nonviolent infractions or misdemeanors such as truancy, bullying, or drug possession. The students appear before a panel of their peers, who review the facts and issue sentences such as restitution, letters of apology, or counseling. In 2017, the program earned a Model of Academic Excellence and Innovation from the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) and a Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS which teaches students social skills that help prevent disciplinary issues, outbursts, and disruptive behavior on and off campus. The program has decreased JUSD suspension and expulsion rates, and, in 2015, received Models of Excellence and Innovation Award from RCOE a Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association. It also earned a District of Distinction Award, from District Administration Magazine, in 2016.
State Model Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) recognition, conferred by the California Department of Education on school districts that model effective attendance-improvement and dropout-prevention strategies. A local SARB, composed of school and community leaders, helps at-risk students address attendance issues, stay in school, and graduate ready for college and careers. Districts may be considered for the honor every other year; JUSD has earned the distinction in 2014-15, 2016-2017, and 2018-19.
According to Dave Doubravsky, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, “Ms. Garza-Gonzalez is a strong, transformative leader...willing to innovate and put new initiatives in place to assist JUSD students."
Dr. Trenton Hansen, Assistant Superintendent of Ogranizationl Leadership and Planning, added, “Ilsa is a phenomenal leader with a passion for serving students and the community...[She] has a commitment to excellence that is evident in her work and throughout her department. Her staff are well trained and share her enthusiasm for helping others."
Congratulations to Ms. Garza-Gonzalez on this terrific recognition.
