Main story: Gilroy school superintendent connects with community

Anisha Munshi strives to inspire students to push themselves to greatness

 

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By Keira Silver

Dr. Anisha Munshi immigrated to the United States from India with her husband in 1993. After raising their daughters at home for 10 years, she began to assist in preschools and classrooms as a parent volunteer.

“That’s where this teaching bug got into my head,” she said. “While I was helping out in classrooms, I realized I really enjoyed being around children and teaching. I went back to school to get my teaching credentials. I got my master’s in  education, and then started teaching.”

Munshi earned a bachelor of science degree and a master of arts in education, both from National University. She holds her doctorate in education from San Jose State University.  Munshi worked at several elementary schools in the Gilroy Unified School District. Later, the district promoted her to assistant principal at South Valley Middle School and afterwards Solorsano Middle School.

From December 2018 to July 2020, she served on the GUSD Board of Trustees.

For a time, she worked as the associate superintendent of Professional Learning and Educational Progress Division for the Santa Clara County Office of Education.  She also served as the assistant superintendent of the Human Resources Division and the director of Human Resources for SCCOE.

Replacing Dr. Debbie Flores who retired, Munshi started as GUSD superintendent May 18, 2023. She soon found herself holding a myriad of responsibilities in her new appointment.

“My oversight is everything,” she said. “Everything related to our schools is what I oversee. That’s part of my role and responsibilities. To make sure our schools are safe, to make sure our students are getting a high-quality education, and to make sure that we are fiscally responsible.”

She and her administration team created three priority goals for this school year: academics, mental health and physical wellness, and school culture and climate.

The goal of academics enhances the students’ knowledge about various subjects, she said.

“We want rigor in our classrooms, we want high-quality education, we want to make sure the curriculum is top-notch,” she said. “Academics is the first piece.”

Another high priority the administration concentrates on is building the students’ mental health and wellness.

“We saw how much harm was done, especially during the COVID years, so that’s been an area of focus for us,” she said. “How do we make sure there’s support for students? How do we make sure there’s other resources available for students? That’s been an area of focus for us.”

Creating an inviting school culture and climate serves as a third priority for Munshi and her staff.

“How do we create an environment where students feel safe, feel welcome, and feel that they’re included?” she said. “Those are the three priority areas that we identified.”

Munshi and her team designed a new three-year local control plan for running the large district. The plan has to include all areas for students and what is important to the community, while matching the budget.

“That’s the big plan,” she said. “That’s what we’re working on right now.”

As part of her building communication in the school district, Munshi designed a student council. The members provide youth voices informing her on issues important to their generation.

“The idea is for them to come here to the district office every month to advise me on what is in need at our schools,” she said. “We can’t make decisions without involving youth. That’s also something that’s going to happen within a month or two.”

Munshi visited all 14 GUSD sites within the first two days of school starting in August. She tours  each campus during her reviews, she said.

“We have two to three formal visits scheduled during the year,” she said. “We have a lot of school sites and I visit every single classroom.”

During these outings, Munshi looks to see if students are happy and if they are engaged and interested in the rigorous coursework.

“I look for what is happening in the classroom and how are students responding,” she said.

Munshi’s multiple careers trained her for “the next level up.” Each job prepared her for the next one.

“Every experience teaches you everything,” she said. “If you are looking to grow professionally or even personally, take the chance, take the risk, and jump into areas which are new to you. You learn through failure, and you experience something new. That’s how you learn.”

Munshi believes her passion for education comes through adopting an academic curriculum at each grade level that propels students to grow and climb to the next stage of their lives.

“We are setting the bar high, so that our students are well prepared, and they are able to go to college or get jobs or another career path they choose for themselves,” she said. “Their education should not hold them back. That’s where I think I advocate for them. When my team and I meet about what we are going to bring to the district, this is how our students are going to be better prepared. That’s the advocacy.”

As a 27-year resident of Gilroy, Munshi feels very connected to the community. She believes her jobs have contributed to the people of Garlic City.

“As an educator, I’ve worked for 21 years,” she said. “I live here. All my jobs, including being a board trustee, have been for this community.”

Munshi feels motivated by her responsibility as the new GUSD superintendent.

“It’s not just about the title,” she said. “We have more than 10,000 students. That’s what’s changed me is just that impact . . . it keeps me motivated.”

Munshi joined the Rotary Club of Gilroy and also stays active with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Education Committee.

Melanie Corona, GUSD’s public information officer, appreciates all the work Munshi has done for the community and her engagement in her roles and responsibilities as superintendent.

“She’s out and she’s visible,” she said. “Because her entire career in education has been in Gilroy, except for the short time she left us, our parents know her, and our kids know. She’s like a celebrity around here.”

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Keira Silver is a senior at Christopher High School. She wrote this story with mentorship from publisher Marty Cheek.

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