WATSONVILLE — Artemisa Cortez stood in front of her students at New School Community Day School Friday morning to make an important announcement.
Cortez, who has served as principal at the school for four years, has taken a job as a socio-emotional counselor with Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Student Services Department.
She will work in that capacity for four days at E.A. Hall Middle School, and one at Mintie White Elementary School.
Cortez sat down with the Pajaronian to talk about the change — and about her 37-year career — just before she made the announcement.
She started as a community liaison, working with migrant students and their families, primarily with Valencia, Mar Vista and Starlight elementary schools. She also worked with Salsipuedes Elementary School, which is now Alianza Charter School.
Cortez went to Santa Cruz City Schools for a time, during which she earned her administrative credential.
She then became assistant principal at Harbor High School, and later at E.A. Hall Middle School, where she became principal two years later.
“From there, I decided I was ready to make a change,” she said.
That brought her to Renaissance High School, where she stayed for four years.
In leaving New School to be a socio-emotional counselor, Cortez said she is again ready to make a change.
“I am ready to hand the baton to another administrator,” she said. “I felt that (the job) was calling to me.”
She said that she talks to each student when they are admitted to the school to let them know that they can find support when they need it.
“I tell them no matter what I’m doing, I will stop doing it to help you,” she said.
New School teacher Bryan Love had praise for Cortez, and pointed to the school’s accreditation in 2016 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
“In the past four years we’ve accomplished so much,” he said. “I’ve appreciated working with Ms. Cortez; our collaboration, her encouragement and the freedom she’s given us.”
