School Days:
Gilroy Unified School District
Introducing Five New Administrators
By Melanie Corona, Public Information Officer, Gilroy Unified School District
T
he Gilroy Unifi ed School District welcomes fi ve new administrators to the leadership team as we begin the 2018-19
school year: Jeremy Dirks and Eric Kuwada at Gilroy High School, Mike Nebesnick at Brownell Middle School, Zane
Boehlke at South Valley Middle School, and Jean Wells-Southland at Rucker Elementary School. While new to their
positions, they all have roots in the school district.
JEREMY DIRKS moved to Gilroy with his mother in the early 80’s. His teachers were like
second parents and his classmates were like family. As a Gilroy High School student,
he hoped to play in the NBA. When that didn’t work out, he pursued a college degree
and teaching credential. Dirks joined Gilroy High School as a Social Science teacher,
Activities Director, and coach of the varsity boys’ basketball team From there, he
served as a high school assistant principal in another district. Dirks began his new role
as Principal at Christopher High School in July 2018. Dirks said he went into teaching,
“simply to give back to the community that gave so much to me.” He lives with his
wife and two children in Hollister.
Jeremy Dirks and Eric Kuwada
with Julie Berggren
Zane Boehlke and Principal Patricia
Mondragon
In July, ERIC KUWADA became Assistant Principal at Christopher High School.
Kuwada began teaching at Gilroy High School in the 1980’s and was a founding
member of Christopher High School (2009). At Gilroy High, he taught Science,
chaired the Science Department, served as a Digital Arts Instructor, and was
Assistant Coach for the wrestling team. His wife Marah is an academic coordinator at
Christopher High School, and both of their children are CHS graduates. Clearly, he
brings a rich set of skills and experiences to his new post.
ZANE BOEHLKE assumed the role of Assistant Principal of South Valley Middle School
in August. Boehlke taught English at Christopher High School and was a Teacher on
Special Assignment (TOSA) in the Technology Department. He attended San Francisco
State University, where he played baseball. Boehlke and his wife Rachael live in
Hollister and have two daughters, Scarlett and Magnolia. South Valley Middle School
Principal, Patricia Mondragon, said she is thrilled to have Boehlke on campus to
continue the leadership team’s mission.
MIKE NEBESNICK was appointed as Brownell’s Assistant Principal in August. He
Jean Wells-
Southland
66
JEAN WELLS-SOUTHLAND has taken the reins as Principal at Rucker Elementary
School. She joined the school as a Literacy Facilitator in 2015. Prior to her tenure in
Gilroy Unifi ed, she worked for Partners in School Innovation, and served as Principal
of Silicon Valley Flex Academy (2011-2014). Ms. Wells-Southland and her husband
have three adult children and a grandchild. “From my fi rst days at Rucker, several
years ago, I knew that it was a special place to work,” Wells-Southland said. “I am
looking forward to working with the Rucker community to build connections and
strengthen our student outcomes for learning and social emotional growth.”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018
gmhtoday.com
Mike
Nebesnick
graduated from Gilroy High School and began his career with GUSD in 1993. Most
recently, he taught Sixth Grade and served as Interim Assistant Principal at Brownell
Middle School (2017-18). Prior to that he served as an administrator at other school
sites in the District. He and his wife Lynn have three daughter. Among those excited
to have Mike on board is Brownell Principal, David Laboranti. “Our kids respond well
to him. He has a great rapport with our staff and has already established himself as a
leader on our campus. It’s the best of all worlds!”