Former minister makes 25-year career out of serving the ‘marginalized’
Luis Gavito back in the late 1980’s (left) and today
Like many HISD employees who have been with the district for any significant length of time, Luis Gavito has “worn many hats.” But over the past quarter century, the common thread has always been the constituency he serves: students attending alternative campuses.
“Before I came to HISD, I was in the ministry,” said Gavito, whose current title is administrator of student discipline. “I was an ordained priest, and doing missionary work, so I guess in a way, I have always worked with special populations—the marginalized, rather than the mainstream.”
Over the years, Gavito has also served as the principal of four alternative campuses simultaneously, overseen charter school contracts, and been responsible for updating the Code of Student Conduct with help from the Legal Department. But it’s the district’s success stories that keep him coming back.
“It’s not always the students who stand out as an immediate success,” he said, “but when you do find a match between a child and a program, that’s rewarding.”
Gavito officially marked his 25th anniversary with the district on June 5, but several other employees are also marking theirs this week (June 1–7). See if you know anyone on this list:
40 years
- Janice Bush, nurse, Pin Oak MS
- Pamela Dugar, technologist, Cunningham ES
- Gloria Salazar, principal, K. Smith ES
- Cheryl Wilburn, dispatcher, Police Department
20 years
- Raul Gaitan, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Jamie Jamison, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Philomena Leftwich, teaching assistant, Stevenson MS
- Matthew Martinez, teacher, Reagan HS
- Diana Perez, specialist team lead, Curriculum and Instruction
- Teresa Phillips, manager, Elementary Curriculum and Instruction
- Berlinda Villanueva, secretary, Sharpstown Intl. School
15 years
- Suzanne Coleman, area manager, Transportation
- Pamela Cook, secretary, Professional Development
- Ignacio Jaramillo, IT representative, Crockett ES
10 years
- Maria Cervantes, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Hatem Chami, mechanic team lead, Transportation Services
- Maria Menchaca, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Gina Rivera, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Deborah Roberts, sales manager, Administrative Services
- Vanessa Saldana, teacher, McReynolds MS
- David Saucier, police officer, High School Ahead Academy
5 years
- Donald Broome, field safety inspector, Risk Management
- Mary Margaret Roberts, senior manager, Risk Management
- Raul Rodriguez, teacher, J. P. Henderson ES
- Juan Rojas, senior mechanic, Transportation Services
- Jason Spencer, teacher, Lamar HS
| Check back next Friday for more June Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
Its great to have Luis Gavito on the Student Support Services team. We are enriched by his experience and wisdom.
Special congratualtions to Janice Bush, School Nurse with 40 years experience and still a standout among our school nurses! Congratulations Janice. We’re proud of you!
Congratulations Luis Gavito. HISD is lucky to have such an exemplary administrator.
Diana Perez, Congra and Bless Wishes for a long and beautiful life ahead in the education field. thank you for all you do for the students, teachers,staff and parents of HISD. Keep on rolling and May God Bless you always.
Luis Gavito. Wow. Keep on looking young at heart. Thank you for all you have done to move HISD to the next level. Your work with parents, students and teachers did help evryone to be successful in the schools. May God bless you always for a job well done.
Mr. Gavito was and is such an inspiration to me as an employee with the school district. He showed me what it means to put the student first. I now work with those seeking training as adults. I am still putting the student first. My reward is their success and it’s wonderful! I thank you Mr.Gavito. God bless you. Pat