Anita Franchi is a school administrator with the Hollister
School District. The Pinnacle talked to Franchi about her motives
and aspects of her job. For the video interview with Franchi and
past Hello Hollister video profiles, go to
www.freelancenews.com.
Anita Franchi is a school administrator with the Hollister School District. The Pinnacle talked to Franchi about her motives and aspects of her job. For the video interview with Franchi and past Hello Hollister video profiles, go to www.freelancenews.com.
Q: How did you end up in Hollister and how long have you been here?
A: Well, in the year 2000, I was returning to California from Dallas where I had helped open up seven charter schools. At that time, I was working for as a evaluator for the UCLA School Management Program and my husband and I decided that we would settle here in Hollister because now we had a choice about where we could settle. And I began also working as a consultant for the district and it kind of evolved into the job that I now have. So that was open, I applied for the position and happily I was selected, and we have been living and working here ever since. So, it’s great.
Q: What does your job entail?
A: I’m the educational service coordinator for everything related to technology, to assessment, to teaching and learning, data-driven instruction, evaluation, research, professional development and actually, we oversee about 570 employees. We have close to 5,800 students and they are at nine schools.
Q: What got you involved in education?
A: Actually, the very first day that I started school, when I was six years old, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher. I was in absolute awe of all the books that I could see in the library and I never had books. We were a migrant family with absolutely no resources in the home. So for me, that was an incredible, incredible opportunity. I felt that teachers and education had given me a tremendous motivation and they also gave me a safe haven from a very difficult home life. I thought that one day I wanted to provide the same types of opportunities for students who may not have them and even for those students that do have them. I really believe in the vision that the Hollister School District has, that of helping all children achieve their fullest potential. That resonates very soundly with me and I believe that that is our mission.
Q: Tell me your favorite part about your job and your favorite part about working in education.
A: My favorite part are the people I work with. I think that they are absolutely phenomenal. The fact that they are very dedicated to the children and what’s best for them, I think is very noteworthy. I enjoy getting up in the morning, I enjoy coming to school … well, to the district office but also to the schools because I never know what my day is going to be like. I get to interact on a daily basis with principals, with teachers and with support personnel either by phone, e-mail or in person. And then I have the added advantage of working with students. So I think I have the best of all worlds. I also work with a team here with a cabinet at the Hollister School District. We really focus on the strategic goals for the district and making sure that academic performance is constantly increasing and I think we are doing a fabulous job of that. And we’re also very lucky to be mentored by 25-year veteran Superintendent Dr. Ronald Crates.
