This includes “having the courage to tell people that their performance is not up to standard and helping them get their performance up to standard.” “That’s always the goal, to improve staff and have the best performing staff that you can,” she said. As assistant superintendent, she helped teachers do the same. Born to a father with a sixth-grade education who left when she was 5 and a mother with a second-grade education who picked crops and raised four children, Piceno was first in her family to earn a college diploma.Īs an educator, Piceno strove to hone her craft for the benefit of children. “I’m always looking out for those that need the extra help.”
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“My motivation throughout all of this has been wanting to be involved in the education of underachieving kids who also happened to be poor,” she said. In particular, Piceno had a soft spot for the underdog. “In all of her daily decisions, it always connected back to ‘How does it impact the kid?’ Period.” “With her, it’s always about kids,” he said. The position did not allow daily contact with children, but her work focused on them, said John Perales, principal of South Valley Middle School. In 2002, Piceno became assistant superintendent of human resources, where she finished her career. In 1982, she became high school dean of students and began a career as an administrator that included 12 years at the helm of elementary and middle schools. Piceno spent four years as a teacher, a job to which she aspired since sixth grade, before becoming a counselor in 1979. “It’s rare that you can have somebody who can balance those two attributes.”
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Diaz started with Piceno at Gilroy High School in 1975. “I think she has a real good balance of being sympathetic and empathetic with folks, but being decisive and having high expectations,” said Edwin Diaz, former district superintendent. Piceno – a former teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent – has been a source of honest, constructive feedback to students and peers, colleagues said. Gilroy – If Linda Piceno had a uniform, the school district would be hoisting her jersey to the rafters.Īfter 32 years in Gilroy Unified School District education, the 55-year-old known for her advocacy for underprivileged children’s education and love of baseball hung up her cleats Friday. If Linda Piceno had a uniform, the school district would be