A Free Lance Q
&
amp;A with new SBHS Principal Krystal Lomanto
Hollister – Krystal Lomanto’s tenure as principal of San Benito High School begins with the new school year, starting for students Monday. The Free Lance caught up with the longtime SBHS educator Friday for a question-and-answer session.
Free Lance: What is the biggest attraction to the job of principal at SBHS for you?
Krystal Lomanto: I love teenagers. I think that teaching is a gift and I’m teaching in a different way. To me, the passion is being around students and staff and supporting them, and watching our students grow over the four years. I love it.
FL: What do you think the biggest challenges are?
Lomanto: I think that stability has been an issue with the community. And I think that it’s really important to hold the stability. Also open communication and getting the community back involved and on board so we can continue the process of educating our students. We just had (an) accreditation, so we do have some areas of growth that we are focusing on. I don’t consider it a negative challenge. I consider it a positive challenge so that we can move forward to better improve San Benito High School.
FL: You mentioned stability. There’s a large turnover rate for teachers and administrators at the high school. How are you going to address this?
Lomanto: I think me being from the community helps. I’m a ‘Baler. I graduated from San Benito High School and my family, my husband’s family, both have roots here. I think that, in essence, provides some stability for the community. They know I care about the community, I care about the students, I care about the staff. That alone, I’m hoping, will provide the idea of stability. Also knowing I have an open-door policy and I’m willing to listen. Also, I want to provide support to our new teachers so that we can grow them into great, quality teachers, and to continue that consistency where they want to stay in San Benito County.
FL: One of the issues that comes up again and again is the size of San Benito High School. What are the challenges that come with a school that has almost 3,000 students?
Lomanto: I’ll start to focus on the positives. We do have the student support teams, so the students know that they have a location that they can go to and have people there to support them. We are a large, comprehensive high school. Like other large, comprehensive high schools within the state of California, with that brings challenges. You don’t want students to feel like they’re falling through the cracks. We’re a big campus, and monitoring the campus and ensuring the safety of our students, those are things we have to continually look at, evaluate and work on.
FL: How does having a new administrative team affect your leadership?
Lomanto: I’ve been really fortunate. It’s been really positive. We’ve come together as a team to focus on, what do we validate that is working really well? We’ve been talking about expectations. The positive thing for me is because I’ve been involved in so many pieces of San Benito High School, I understand it well and so I’m able to assist them and work with them and train them in their areas of need. And they each have their own strengths that they’re coming from with their backgrounds. It has not been difficult to form a team with them at all. We’ve been together every day, we’ve been talking about things every day and we will continue to develop that relationship.
FL: Why were you initially reluctant to take the job?
Lomanto: My family. I have two young boys and my husband, and I’ve always taken pride in trying to be the best mother I can. That’s always been a priority in my life. And so when it first opened – I understand the time commitment that comes with this position – and so I was a little apprehensive. Then over time as we discussed it as a family, because it was a family decision … When I did decide to go into this role, they’ve been very supportive. At first I wasn’t too sure, but I’m excited now. I’ve had overwhelming support from the staff and from the community. It makes me proud that we’re going to move forward, and it’s going to be a great year.
FL: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Lomanto: I’m excited. I’m looking forward to a positive year and to educating our kids to their highest potential. I love watching our students grow over the four years and helping them attain the goals that they decide – whether it’s a four-year college or a two-year college or a trade school or military. That’s what it’s about: The two ends of the spectrum. Watching them come in today, and four years from now, when they’re back in the gym together walking out to graduate. That’s what’s exciting and that’s what’s invigorating and keeps you going.
