Education: Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent Deborah Flores to retire at end of school year
Schools received many awards during her 16 years of leadership
Deborah Flores
By Staff Report
After 16 years as superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District, Dr. Deborah Flores plans to retire June 30. She is the longest-serving superintendent in Santa Clara County.
She made the announcement at the Jan. 12 school board meeting, saying it was one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make and she will miss the job and the staff and teachers when she steps down.
“This is a great district with so many wonderful people, and those people are who I will miss most now that I am moving on to the next chapter of my life,” she said. “I have been very fortunate to work with dedicated school board members who work as a team to create the best outcomes for our staff and students.”
Since joining the district in summer 2007, Flores made it her mission to reduce the dropout rate, increase the graduation rate, increase academic performance for all subgroups and close the achievement gap for students.
During her tenure, the GUSD and its schools have received a number of awards and recognitions.
Last year the district was named a California Pivotal Practices District by the California Department of Education. Also in 2022, Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy was named a California Pivotal Practices School. In 2021, GECA was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
Seven district schools have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools: GECA (2013 and 2019), Las Animas Elementary (2008), Rod Kelley Elementary (2018), Solorsano Middle (2007 and 2013), Glen View Elementary (1997) and Gilroy High School (1994 and 2009).
Flores gained the support of Gilroy voters for two bond measures, which led to the completion of hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations at most schools in the district and new construction: Christopher High School, Brownell Middle School and South Valley Middle School. Following the Garlic Festival shooting in 2019, GUSD played an integral role in providing resources and support to the Gilroy community.
Over the past 10 years, Flores took the lead in creating a top-notch and comprehensive district-wide safety plan, which includes: security fencing around all school perimeters, the installation of state-of-the art-security cameras, remote access entry systems, and a strong relationship with the Gilroy Police Department and school resource officers.
Through her leadership, the district created two specialized academies: the Biomedical Science Academy at Gilroy High School and the Computer Science Academy at Christopher High School.
Flores led the district through its most challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with the shutdown of schools, distance learning and then the return to in-person learning at the school sites.
Flores began her career in Massachusetts in 1975 as a special education teacher and teacher lead. After working for various other districts, she was hired by Gilroy Unified in June 2007. She serves on the South County CalSOAP Board of Directors, SELPA Executive Council, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Business and Education Committee, and has been a member of the Gilroy Rotary since 2008.
She credits the people working for GUSD for its success.
“My cabinet, executive assistant and PIO are incredible and I feel so blessed to have worked with them. The principals and management team are a dedicated, hardworking group who do a great job,” she said in a press release. “There are so many talented staff in our district at our school sites and in the departments, who make such a difference in our students’ lives. We have wonderful students and parents. I feel so honored to have been your superintendent all these years.”