Cruz has also served as coach of the Girls’ tennis team for the past three years. The team went from a 0-12 season to 5-8. In addition, Cruz has taken on the job of color guard coach for this school year. He brought back the short flag team. They took 1st place in the Camarillo Christmas Parade and Band Review.SPHS Principal Paul Marietti had high praise for Cruz. “It is impossible to sum up the impact that Jerry has had on this school and its students,” he said. “We want to thank Jerry for sharing his talents, for donating his time and for educating our students.”Band Director Doug Kadansky echoed the praise for Cruz. “It’s been my privilege to work with Mr. Cruz for the past two and a half years,” he said. He went on to repeat the list of accomplishments and added a couple of others. Cruz kept the Isbell Middle School music program going while the teacher was on maternity leave and ran the high school program when Kadansky was out with health problems.
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The Santa Paula Union High School District Board recently recognized Jerry Cruz for his volunteer work with the SPHS band. Robert Salas, Board President, congratulates Jerry. (Photo by Brian D. Wilson) |
Jerry Cruz honored by SPUHS board for volunteer work
February 22, 2008
Santa Paula High School
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula TimesThe Santa Paula Union High School District Board has recognized Jerry Cruz for his volunteer work with the SPHS band.Cruz has served as a volunteer assistant band director for the past five years. Cruz graduated from Santa Paula High School, where he was National Honor Society president and played on the baseball and tennis teams. He also was a percussionist for the SPHS band for all four years, a drum major for three years and a pianist for the Jazz Band for four years.He discovered he was not prepared to pursue a career in music after a disastrous audition at Texas Tech University. It was then that Cruz decided to change his career choice to music education at the high school level. He also decided that he would dedicate his life to create a music program that would offer students the opportunities he didn’t have.Cruz has two jobs, attends Ventura College and volunteers with the band. In 2006 he started the first competitive drum line at SPHS. In it’s first year the drum line won a 3rd place and 1st place trophy.
