During the 2018-2019 school year, the Galena Park ISD Alumni Spotlight will be an Educators Edition! Many of our campuses are full of GPISD alumni who serve as campus principal, assistant principals, teachers, paraprofessionals and counselors! We are so proud to have many GPISD alumni who have come back home to educate our children!

For the month of October, we are spotlighting Jacinto City Elementary (JCE)!

Here are a few fun facts about the GPISD alumni working at JCE:

1. There are 25 GPISD alumni working on the campus.
2. Principal Rebecca Gardea and Assistant Principal Cecilia Meza are both Galena Park High School alumnae.
3. Twenty-two alumni attended Galena Park High School.
4. Twelve alumni went to Jacinto City Elementary.
5. In kindergarten through fourth grade, there is a GPISD alumni teaching students.

Rebecca “Becky” Gardea is a 1979 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Galena Park Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, Gardea attended the University of Houston, Texas A&M University and Stephen F. Austin. She has been working in the district for 33 years and is currently the principal of JCE. When asked what it meant to her to work in the district she grew up in, she said, “it’s a large, close family atmosphere.”

Cecilia Meza is a 1993 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. Meza attended San Jacinto College, the University of Houston and Lamar University. She has been working in GPISD for 22 years and is currently the assistant principal at JCE. It means the world to Meza to be working in the district she grew up in, she loves to give back to the community and help students in the neighborhood.

Vanessa Aguirre is a 2014 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Galena Park Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. She has been working in the district for three years and currently serves as a paraprofessional. Aguirre loves working in the district she grew up in because she has the opportunity to see all of her former classmates’ children learn and grown.

Yuli Aguirre is a 2004 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary, Galena Park Middle School and Woodland Acres Middle School. After high school, she attended Houston Community College. Aguirre has been with the district for two years and is currently a paraprofessional. She said it means a lot to her to work in the district she grew up in because her children now attend GPISD schools.

Nora Amador is a 2007 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, she attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston- Clear Lake. Amador has been working in the district for seven years and is currently a fourth grade teacher. She says it feels good to be able to give back to the district that provided a great educational experience for her.

Jueretta Berry is a 1977 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Fidelity Manor Elementary, Galena Park Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, Berry attended Texas Southern University and has been working in GPISD for 37 years. She is currently the music teacher at JCE. She said it’s rewarding to work in the district she grew up in because she is able to make a positive impact on the lives in the community just like the foundation that was laid for her as a student.

San Juana “Juanita” Davidson is a 1988 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Galena Park Middle School. She has been working in GPISD for 23 years and currently serves as the school secretary. Davidson loves working in the district she grew up in because she is constantly around family and loves working with coworkers she graduated with.

Rosa Garza is a 2004 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Galena Park Middle School. She has been working in the district for four years and currently serves as a paraprofessional. She loves working in the district, because she gets to see familiar faces all of the time.

Dina Gonzalez is a 1988 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. She has been with the district for 30 years and currently serves as the principal’s secretary. The district has always felt like family to her and now being employed in GPISD means a lot to Gonzalez.

Maricela Gonzalez is a 1995 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Galena Park Middle School. After high school, Gonzalez attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston- Downtown. She has been with the district for 15 years and is currently the curriculum instructional coach at JCE. Gonzalez loves working in the district she grew up in because it feels like home. 

Rolando Gonzalez is a 1999 Galena Park High School graduate, he also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, Gonzalez attended the University of Houston- Downtown. He has been working in the district for 14 years and currently serves as a third grade teacher.  Gonzalez said it feels good to give back to the district he grew up in.

Yanett Gonzalez is a 2005 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After graduation, she attended the University of Houston- Downtown. Gonzalez has been with the district for three years and serves as a paraprofessional. When asked what it means to her to work in the district she grew up in, she said she loves that she gets the opportunity to help our future leaders.

Vianey Korie is a 2002 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, Korie attended the University of Houston- Downtown. She has been with the district for 10 years and is currently the pre-kindergarten 3-year-old teacher. Korie said it’s a privilege to come back to teach in the same school she attended as a child. She has always wanted to give back to community and teaching is the perfect way to do just that.

Ana Mata is a 2017 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Galena Park Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. She is attending San Jacinto College and is a part of the Homegrown Program. When asked what it meant to her to work in the district she grew up in, she said it’s nice to work in a district that she’s already familiar with.

Lucia Perez is a 1995 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school she attended, the University of Houston- Downtown and the University of Houston- Clear Lake. Perez has been working in the district for 21 years and is currently serving as the lead campus instructional coach. She said it has been a blessing to have grown up in GPISD, because the district shaped her future and for that reason she became a teacher. Working in the district where she grew up means she now has the honor of shaping students’ future and inspiring them to dream big.

Mariana Perez is a 2002 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, she attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston- Clear Lake. Perez has been with the district for 12 years and currently serves as a second grade teacher. When asked what it means to her to work in the district she grew up in, she said it makes her happy to give back to the community and school she attended.

Robyn Rashell is a 1985 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended MacArthur Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, she attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston- Clear Lake. Rashell has been working in the district for 16 years and is currently a kindergarten teacher. It is a privilege for Rashell to work in GPISD, three generations of her family have attended GPISD schools. GPISD holds many special memories for her family.

Mary “Nikki” Rodriguez is a 2009 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. She attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston. Rodriugez has been working in the district for four years and currently serves as a paraprofessional. Coming back to work in GPISD is like coming back to family according to Rodriguez. It makes her day when the kids ask what school she went to and she says JCE, their eyes widen and they smile!

Yaquelin Serrano is a 2015 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Pyburn Elementary and Woodland Acres Middle School. After high school, Serrano attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston- Downtown. She has been with the district for three years and currently serves as a paraprofessional. It means a lot to Serrano to work in the district she grew up in, because its where she gained her educational aspirations.

Sherri Snook is a 1999 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, she attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston- Clear Lake. Snook has been with the district for seven years and is currently a first grade teacher. She loves having the opportunity to give back to the district that gave so much to her.

Alicia Tamez is a 2002 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. After high school, she attended San Jacinto College and the University of Houston. Tamez has been working in the district for 12 years and is currently a fourth grade teacher. She loves working in the district she grew up in because she knows the community and the advantage of teaching in a close knit neighborhood.

Daniela Urias is a 2016 Galena Park High School graduate, she also attended Galena Park Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. She has been with the district for one year and currently serves as a paraprofessional. Urias loves working in the district she grew up in because she can give back to the community that helped build her future.