Nancy Bernal: Bernal is an original member of the El Toro
instructional team. When the school first opened, she worked
primarily with students in kindergarten, first and second grades.
Bernal has been a valuable asset to the teachers. She has the gift
of truly making a difference for students at El Toro
Elementary.
Nancy Bernal:
Bernal is an original member of the El Toro instructional team. When the school first opened, she worked primarily with students in kindergarten, first and second grades. Bernal has been a valuable asset to the teachers. She has the gift of truly making a difference for students at El Toro Elementary.
Bernal spent hours custom designing materials that would reinforce the academic materials for English learners. She is also very gifted in art and poetry.
A parent once wrote a letter to Nancy stating, “I hope El Toro knows what a treasure you are and recognizes you for all your wonderful qualities.”
Lin Corpus:
Corpus has served the district as the principal at Paradise Valley Elementary and has served as teacher in the Evergreen School District for 14 years. She retires next week from her teaching duties at Nordstrom Elementary. Her career in education includes her being a three-time mentor teacher, a gifted and talented educator, bilingual teacher and the recipient of the Whitney and CTIP grants. Her Morgan Hill career spans eight years.
Corpus is well known for her genuine care for every student. She works diligently to engage all students in the exciting process of learning.
As a confident educator, she provides a positive learning environment that sets the stage for students to achieve excellence and for students’ special needs and talents to be recognized.
Karen Cyris:
Cyris came to district as a middle school counselor at the start of the 98-99 school year. She came to us with experience in a high school setting and expertise in working with at-risk students.
Cyris has been a dedicated counselor at Britton Middle School where she started a peer-helping program. In the peer-helping program she gave students the opportunity to learn effective strategies for helping their peers through difficult times or stressful situations. The peer-helpers were also assigned to help new students get through the first few days at a new school which made for a comforting transition for the “new kids.”
Cyris also worked long and hard during testing periods, keeping the paperwork straight and making sure the testing rules were followed.
After retirement she plans to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she will have time to enjoy her hobbies, scrap booking, traveling and fishing. She’ll also have more time to devote to spoiling her triplet grandchildren.
Carole Eoff:
Eoff was hired as general clerk typist for the library at Burnett Elementary School in 1984. She has been described as professional, friendly, personable, conscientious and dependable. During her 20 years with the district she moved up the ladder to intermediate clerk typist, then to staff secretary at the District Office and finally to her current position of executive secretary in the technology department. During her reign in technology, Eoff has been a key contributor to the success of the district’s Enrollment Center. Assisting the new kinders prepare for success in school has become an important part of her daily work.
Patricia Gonzales:
Gonzales came to the district as a substitute bus driver in December 1999. In February 2000 she became a permanent employee.
She has been a dedicated member of the transportation team. She drives a special education route and the children on her bus know that she has a special heart for their needs and their safety. Gonzales also makes time to drive for field trips so I’m sure she has seen her share of the many educational sights around Santa Clara County.
After her retirement Patsy is to move to Michigan so she can be close to her daughter, grandchildren and grandchild-to-be. Patsy is also going to take her parents along so it will truly be a family affair in Michigan.
Lynda Hawks:
Crafty, creative, artistic, imaginative, nurturing, friendly, helpful – all adjectives that have been used to describe Hawks, who is retiring as secretary at Los Paseos Elementary.
Hawks started with the School District as a clerical substitute in 1992. She quickly earned the reputation of an “excellent worker” and every department wanted her when they needed a substitute. Lynda worked mostly in the education services division, helping out with migrant duties, summer school registration/attendance, and special education needs.
In 2000, Hawks made the leap and decided to become “real” – she became the general clerk in the Los Paseos office. In 2001, she again arose to the challenge and became the secretary at Los Paseos.
Clara “Lynn” Hirst:
Hirst began a short substituting stint in 1985 with Morgan Hill School District. The following year she began teaching permanently at Martin Murphy Middle School. In 1994, she changed her career path and moved to Central High School.
Hirst has been described as a “country girl at heart” complete with ducks, beautiful roses and the best “Fall Tomatoes” you will ever wrap your taste buds around.
Hirst has a passion for books and literature. Her annual pilgrimage to Ashland, Oregon, for the Shakespeare Festival is legendary.
In addition to being an avid reader, she inspires the Central students to submit their poetry to her each year. She creates a “Bouquet of Poetry” in magazine form for all to enjoy.
Judy Anne Linderman:
Linderman was hired in March 1980 by Principal Jim McDonald as instructional aide at Nordstrom. In February 1981 she resigned when her husband was transferred to Paris, France.
Her oldest daughter graduated from high school in Paris. The family returned to Morgan Hill and Judy returned to work in November 1985 as a special education aide. She worked at Paradise Valley, Nordstrom, summer school and now is retiring from Britton where McDonald is again her principal.
Linderman continued her education attending Gavilan Community College. She is studying early child development and child-family community.
She has nine grandchildren, five of them second generation in the district.
Rita Ortega:
Ortega has been a school bus driver for the district since September 1967 and a community member since she was 10 years of age. She has driven many of the different bus routes from San Martin to Martin Murphy, on the flat land and on the hills, and she has driven generations of Morgan Hill students.
If one word could describe her, it would be dependable. Ortega rarely missed a day of work and has always been quick to offer assistance to others. She is efficient and organized – making sure load sheets were accurate and her bus was clean and in excellent condition.
David Ross:
Australia lost a very valuable asset the day Ross came to the district as an elementary teacher in 1996. He has shared his many talents as a distinguished educator with the district. He has served as a PAR/BTSA teacher, helping new teachers gain confidence and awareness of excellent teaching practices. Ross has a special talent for recognizing the positive in every child and teacher. He values every student. He is a motivating educator who holds high expectations for all students and paves the path for them to achieve those expectations.
Jacaline Silva:
Silva first began her career with the Morgan Hill School District as a yard supervisor in 1993 and then in 1998 she took a permanent position as an instructional aide in the classroom. As an instructional aide, she was a superior employee. Within the classroom Silva has provided instruction to students on a one-to-one basis or in groups, both large and small. She has assisted special needs students with their class work as well as with maneuvering around the campus. Silva is known for her patience, diligence, nurturing, flexibility and dedication to the students of this district. The resource teachers have found her to be quite responsible, a valued member of the El Toro team and the special education program.
Donna D. Simmons:
Simmons started her teaching career in Los Angeles, working her way north to Albany, Oregon, and then south to Morgan Hill in 1979.
She has taught a wide variety of classes in her 40 years in education. During her 25 years at Central High School, Simmons has taught art, world history, yearbook, computer technology, digital photo and a myriad of electives. She has added world traveler, “Computer Technology Champion” and most importantly, grandmother, to her ample resume.
Georgann Stafford:
In 1985, Stafford began her teaching career with Morgan Hill School District as a substitute teacher. She decided to join the ranks and accepted a permanent teaching position in 1988 teaching at Nordstrom and El Toro.
Stafford is described by colleagues as enthusiastic, caring, professional, diligent and a life-long learner. She models confidence and respect for her students. In return, they feel accepted, worthy, wanted and appreciated.
Stafford has spent many summers “team teaching” summer school with Barbara Pearce. She welcomed the opportunity to try new teaching methods and techniques to make summer school an enriching environment for her students as well as herself.
Stafford also tutored second graders in an after-school tutoring program at El Toro. Her goal was to improve the reading skills for below grade level students. She enjoyed the opportunity to work with these children and eagerly took classes to keep up with improved teaching techniques that would help them improve their skills.
