Early 1980's

Staff Photo 1980-1981
Hector Caraballo, Principal
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Hector Caraballo was principal at Alvarado for much of the decade. Leonore Sanchez was the long time school secretary. In the middle 80's the office and the staff room were completely remodeled. Melinda Stephen was the librarian/media specialist prep teacher for the first part of the decade.

Liz Jordan joined the staff in 1984 as a science prep teacher. Liz recalls, "the Science preps began the year that I began in the district. There were 5 full time k-4 science teachers: Holly Scroggins, Linda Carey, Fenna Gatty, Mary Rodriques and me (I was at Alvarado and Decoto the first year). Steve Politzer and Steve Zapiain were part time science teachers that first year. Only Holly had formal science training, and Holly was the only one not hired back after the first year. Hector hired her to be a classroom teacher when he found out that she was not being rehired as a science teacher. The five full time science teachers created the entire k-4 science program that first year, working every weekend, attending workshops and creating hands-on lessons for every grade level. It was invigorating and very intense. Sometimes we did not have our own classrooms and had all of our materials in shopping carts, going from classroom to classroom each period!"

Staff Photo 1983-1984
Hector Caraballo, Principal
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