Photo by Samantha Bengtson
Miguel Malagon and Yvette Irving show their support for Spartans by joining the district.
GONZALES — Gonzales Unified School District Superintendent Yvette Irving and Gonzales High School Assistant Principal Miguel Malagon each began their new roles, respectively, this school year.
Irving joins the Gonzales team after spending two years as the assistant superintendent at the Monterey County Office of Education. Irving was able to see different districts in the county and found that Gonzales is a city with a lot of community, parent and staff support.
“When the opening came up, the opportunity to support the system and continue to enhance what we offer to students, providing them with an education, which allows them more choice when they graduate, was very attractive to me,” Irving said.
Malagon has a familiar face, as he served as academic counselor for 11 years at GHS.
“I have quite a history with the community and the students and with the staff members,” Malagon said.
Malagon decided to apply for the assistant principal position because he wanted to continue to support the community, staff and students. With his experience as an academic counselor, he wants to continue to show students the road to community college, four-year university, military service, etc., as assistant principal.
Irving inherited a goal of renovation work that included facilities.
In the past three months, the Gonzales Unified School District has installed solar panels, replaced stadium lights, remodeled locker rooms at the high school and added HVAC units for air conditioning and heating at school sites.
“There’s new paint, new carpeting, so that first goal of upgrading our facilities to be more conducive to learning is on its way to being accomplished,” Irving said.
The School Board is also on a path toward building a sense of community in the district and outside. According to Irving, the priority goal for the district is student safety and success as well as satisfaction.
Malagon is focusing on the graduation rate in Gonzales High School. Currently the graduation rate is about 98 percent, but those students aren’t all prepared for college, and Malagon wants to change that.
“Making sure students are college and career ready and making sure that when our students go to college they stay there and get a four-year degree,” he said. “If they want to come back to the community, they are already professionals.”
Malagon said that his goal is going to be a team effort between the teachers and district support.
Irving started at the Gonzales Unified School District on July 1, and Malagon began at the high school July 26.
