Linda Stubbs was recognized by the Association of California School Administrators for the third time in her career with Ceres Unified School District.
Fellow CUSD staff members Dr. David Viss, Ashley Grim and Nate Diamantine were honored as ACSA Region 7 award winners as well. All four were honored during Thursday’s Ceres School Board meeting, along with Stephanie Pimentel and Julio Madrigal.
Grim wasn’t able to attend the meeting due to a conflicting schedule.
“I’m super honored,” Stubbs said.
“The staff has done amazing things here,” said Stubbs, who is the principal of Argus/Endeavor high schools. “It’s rewarding to see our students succeed and be happy.”
Stubbs was named ACSA’s Region 7 “Continuation/Educational Options Administrator of the Year.”
Stubbs, CUSD’s 2023 Administrator of the Year, has served as principal of Argus/Endeavor since 2019.
“The biggest challenge is trying to chance perception of community and people,” she said. “People don’t think this is a great place to be. It’s a great school. We have a lot of awesome students that have faced all kinds of challenges in their lives they have zero control of. They just need a little support so they can get through whatever is happening and back on the academic track.”
Stubbs has worked for the district for 18 years. She was principal of Ceres High School for 10 years (2009-2019). She was associate principal from 2006-09 and assistant principal from 2005-06.
Stubbs was named ACSA’s Secondary Principal of the Year for the region and state in 2015.
She’s also an active member of the Soroptimist International of Ceres service organization.
“As the principal of Argus and Endeavor, Mrs. Stubbs insists that all students deserve high-quality instruction through a rigorous standards-based and relevant curriculum that fosters 21st century skills,” said Viss, CUSD’s assistant superintendent of Personnel Services. “Her vision of ‘You Matter’ is communicated to and shared by staff. This vision includes a collaborative approach to addressing the academic and social-emotional needs of all students. Mrs. Stubbs is committed to continuing to foster this shared vision of academic and social-emotional learning every day.”
Viss was named ACSA’s Region 7 “Professor of Education of the Year.”
He’s worked for the district for 11 years.
CUSD Director of Personnel Services Jennifer Cervantes said that under Dr. Viss’ leadership, CUSD’s Personnel Services division exemplifies the district’s motto of “Committed to Excellence, Responsive to Every Student.”
“Dr. Viss is an instrumental force in hiring the most qualified candidates in each and every position,” said Cervantes. “He ensures all employees are able to provide the highest quality education for students. As a result of this commitment, Ceres boasts an excellent certificated retention rate of 87 percent.”
Grim, the district’s coordinator of Educational Services, was named ACSA’s Region 7 “Technology Administrator of the Year.”
She’s been employed by CUSD for eight years.
“Mrs. Grim has assisted site and district leaders in building a data-driven culture focused on analyzing and translating data into action,” Viss said. “She was instrumental to the development of a district-wide comprehensive assessment plan and complementary professional development plan that support teachers, administrators, and students in seeing a full picture of where students are in their learning, with the goal always being increased student outcomes.”
Diamantine, assistant principal of Patricia Kay Beaver Leadership Magnet School, was named ACSA’s Region 7 “Elementary Co-Administrator of the Year.”
He’s been employed by CUSD for the past 10 years.
“Mr. Diamantine works tirelessly with the Patricia Kay Beaver Multi-tiered Systems of Support team assessing data to match academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of students with targeted support,” noted Cervantes. “When he became assistant principal at PKB in 2021, he took on the responsibility to oversee the district’s K-8 independent study program, prioritizing the students’ academic and social needs and ensuring they receive services while learning at home.”
Viss, Grim, Diamantine and Pimentel were also nominated for “CUSD Administrator of the Year.”
Pimentel, principal of Adkison Elementary, has worked for the district for seven years.
“Mrs. Pimentel believes that a positive school culture is at the heart of learning,” commented Viss. “Without this, it is impossible for staff and students to thrive. She is known for being highly visible at her site every day, whether welcoming students and families to campus, reading to and with students during recesses, or visiting classrooms to provide positive and constructive feedback to staff.”
Madrigal, who has been employed by the district for seven years, was named CUSD’s “Administrative Assistant of the Year.”
“He is responsible, respectful and safe in everything he does, ensuring Ceres High is a place where students and staff want to be every day,” Cervantes said of Madrigal. “He has used his gifts of integrity, self-motivation, creativity, confidence and his ability to build relationships with students, staff and the community to improve school culture.”
