Two Gilroy Middle Schools Will Have New Leadership Next Year

Next week, Gilroy Patch’s Ann Krueger-Spivack will feature all three of Gilroy’s middle school principals in a single “Ten Minutes With” feature. Check back next week for a deeper look at the changing schools and a retrospective from the two principals who are moving on from their posts.

Two of Gilroy’s three middle schools will have new leadership after their respective principals leave their posts at the end of this school year.

The is in the second part of a three-stage hiring process, hoping to announce replacements for Principal Salvatore Tomasello and Principal Greg Kapaku by the end of this month, according to Assistant Superintendent Joel Herrera.

Tomasello will retire on June 30, and Kapaku will move to an assistant principal position at next year.

“It’s going to have a big impact on the middle schools, but I see a lot of positive things in the future,” said Kapaku.

After 39 years in the school district and eight as a principal, Tomasello said he would remain involved during the transition.

“There are going to be a lot of challenges coming up in education, and I’d still like to do what I can to help,” said Tomasello, who has three grandchildren enrolled in the district.

Kapaku will join Christopher High School Principal John Perales as an assistant principal. The two developed a good working relationship while Perales was principal of South Valley, where Kapaku formerly served as an assistant principal, said Kapaku.

Originally interested in working at the high school level, Kapaku said he was excited at the opportunity to transition while remaining within Gilroy Unified.

“The timing was sort of perfect for a change,” said Kapaku, who spent 14 years working at the middle school level. “I really love it here, but change is good.”

With many former students attending Christopher High, Kapaku, principal for three years, said he looked forward to seeing familiar faces.

Tomasello said that while he’ll be involved, he won’t spend all of his time back with the school district.

“I’d like to take some time to travel with my wife,” he said.