Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerry Guevara.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Gerry. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Barrio Otay, a part of the City of Chula Vista known for its strong working-class values. While attending Southwestern College in Chula Vista, I got a chance to begin working as a professional musician with local San Diego acts, mainly with one of the city’s most popular bands, B-Side Players.
Being part of the band gave me an opportunity to see the whole country. It was a great way to learn about all different types of people who make up this nation. The band was proud to give back by doing charity events, but we felt even more fulfilled when we were invited to play in schools.
After nearly 10 years as a professional musician, I went back to college and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from UCSD. After college, some of my friends who had been offered opportunities at King-Chavez Neighborhood of Schools encouraged me to apply as a Guided Reading Instructor at the Primary Academy. I got the job and enjoyed working in the King-Chavez community right away.
I was drawn to the organization’s mission statement: “We seek excellence in Academics, Arts, and Athletics from the foundation of love.” I felt a responsibility to show up every day for the students, especially those who needed a positive male role model in their lives. After two years of working as a reading instructor, I searched for other ways to make an impact.
I learned more about the role of school counselors and started to spend more time with students involved in special programs during and after school. I felt called to follow this path, and I began my post-graduate studies in school counseling. King-Chavez gave me the opportunity to complete practicum hours at the Primary Academy and at its sister school, King-Chavez Academy of Excellence.
At the same time, King-Chavez was opening a new preschool. I was selected as the Parent Liaison for the preschool, and I learned a lot about working with parents of young children to support their needs. The following year, I was asked to return to King-Chavez Primary Academy as the full-time school counselor. After a few years, I was promoted to Vice Principal, and I enjoyed that work so much that I returned to school to complete an administrator certification.
Today, I am the principal at King-Chavez Primary Academy, a job I’ve had and loved for five years. I am lucky to work in a school where teachers and staff give everything they have to ensure that our students receive the same high-quality education that their peers receive in other parts of San Diego County.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As the son of a janitor, I learned the value of hard work and perseverance. I saw the daily sacrifices my parents made for our family and was motivated to do my part and make them proud. I took a different route to get to my current position than most people, but I know that the uncertain times and the struggles prepared me for what was to come.
There are always things you wish could have gone differently, but as we tell our students at King-Chavez, “every mistake is an opportunity to learn.” I’m privileged to have found a place where I can draw on all of my past experiences in order to make a difference in people’s lives.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
King-Chavez classes and programs are customized to give students the academic fundamentals and so much more.
For example, at our high school, we don’t simply teach science – we take students to the Elementary Science Institute for hands-on, real-life experiences with our city’s top scientific minds. Our mock trial program is one of San Diego’s highest rated, competing right alongside the city’s best schools. Our internship programs help place students in City Hall, corporate offices and non-profit organizations. Each and every day, King-Chavez students are getting ready for success in college and their future careers.
Our arts programs include everything from music to painting to ceramics, where students are using actual kilns to make beautiful pottery. Athletics at King-Chavez isn’t just about running on a track like the old days; starting at kindergarten, our kids are participating in soccer, basketball, bicycle club, flag football, cheerleading, color guard, cross country and martial arts – to name a few. And, in a few years, they’ll have a brand new, state-of-the-art turf athletics field.
But we know the work – and the need — doesn’t stop when our students leave school for the day. That’s why our team helps families with food and clothing – including school uniforms — for our beloved students, and why staff members generously volunteer their own time to host special events like Thanksgiving dinners and holiday festivals.
In addition, we provide a number of enrichment opportunities during the school day. At King-Chavez Primary Academy, we offer a new class called “Leadership and Social Justice,” in which students discuss the qualities of leadership and ways in which some of our most famous leaders have worked toward equality and civil rights by serving others.
Put simply, for all 250 of our hardworking King-Chavez teachers and staff; this is much more than a job. It’s a life we chose because we care deeply about our students, and want each of them to realize their infinite potential.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up in my house as the youngest of four boys, I received the typical younger brother treatment, but I was fortunate enough to have big brothers to look up to and learn from. They took care of me and tried to guide me down the right path. My house always had music in it.
My father was a trumpet player, my mother a pianist and we were all expected to perform for guests in the living room. Sports were equally important. My father had been a semi-pro baseball player and boxer in Mexico, and we all played multiple sports through high school.
I can’t remember a time in my youth when I wasn’t going to a sports practice, a choir practice, a piano lesson, or performance. I credit these activities for keeping me out of trouble and giving me a well-rounded perspective.
This is one of the reasons I enjoy working at King-Chavez. We give our students a chance to develop many skills that will benefit them throughout their life.
Contact Info:
- Address: 415 31st St., San Diego, CA. 92102
- Website: http://www.kingchavez.org/
- Phone: 619-525-7320
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingchavezschools/
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