The Vasquez vision: Don traditions with 21st century learning
By Aleksey Soto
El Rodeo Staff Writer
El Rodeo Staff Writer
New year, new principal, and a new direction. 46-year- old Mr. Hector Vasquez, with his extensive background and passion for education, is ready and able to lead El Rancho for the 2017-2018 school year.
Mr. Vasquez has twelve years of administrative experience under his belt. Before coming to El Rancho, he was a principal in the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified school district, but in the past, he’s worked in both the Bellflower Unified and San Bernardino City Unified school districts.
“I began my principalship in San Bernardino City Unified as a middle school principal,” Vasquez said. “I was a middle school principal for two years and spent two years as a high school principal in [the district].”
“I began my post-secondary educational career at Fullerton Junior College. I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship at Azusa Pacific University, where I received my undergraduate degree in Physical Educa- tion with a minor in Spanish. I went back for my teaching credential, administrative credential, and my masters in educational leadership,” Vasquez said.
Coming to El Rancho was an easy decision for Vasquez to make. Both of his in-laws are alumni, and they and their family inspired Vasquez to apply as soon as the position was announced.
“My father-in-law graduated here in 1973, and my mother in law graduated in 1974,” said Vasquez, “and all nine of their siblings and their children are graduates from El Rancho. Every party that I’ve ever been to on my wife’s side has been about [this school]!”
“Throughout the hiring process, I was confident and nervous,” Vasquez said. “Every time you go through an interview process you get nervous, but I knew that if I got the opportunity to interview the first time, then I would have a good chance of being in the finals. Now that I’m here I’m very excited.”
During his free time, Vasquez’s life revolves around sports practices and games.
“I have three children, and they all play sports,” Vasquez said. “My daughter, Brianna, is a senior at La Habra High School, and she is on the U.S. National Rugby team; she is in France representing the U.S. My older son, Brandon, is the quarterback of the freshman football team also at La Habra and plays baseball. My 10 year-old son, Bryce, plays football and baseball.”
Despite his busy personal life, Vasquez is passionate about his job as El Rancho’s instructional leader. “I get here early, and I leave late because I want to be here,” he said. “Any opportunity I have I’m either reading research about new strategies or practices, or I’m attending workshops.”
His plans as a principal include, “working with the staff this year on keeping the traditions of El Rancho intact but moving to 21st-century teaching and learning.” He’s also planning on making this school the best it can be for its students.
As for school events, Vasquez admits he’s looking most forward to graduation be- cause, “at the end of the year, my job as a principal is to make sure all of the seniors graduated and move on to bigger and better things. The Night Pep Rally is also a big event that I’m looking forward to, and any sporting event or academic competition.”
As a high school student, he also had a career as a DJ! “I like all kinds of music. I had my own equipment, my own group, and I DJ’d a lot of school dances and house parties. Vasquez wants every student to, “Have fun, but study harder because everything can be achieved through education.” “I’m blessed to be at El Rancho with our great staff and students,” Vasquez said. “I love the school and the community, and I hope that together we can achieve great things.”
Mr. Vasquez has twelve years of administrative experience under his belt. Before coming to El Rancho, he was a principal in the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified school district, but in the past, he’s worked in both the Bellflower Unified and San Bernardino City Unified school districts.
“I began my principalship in San Bernardino City Unified as a middle school principal,” Vasquez said. “I was a middle school principal for two years and spent two years as a high school principal in [the district].”
“I began my post-secondary educational career at Fullerton Junior College. I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship at Azusa Pacific University, where I received my undergraduate degree in Physical Educa- tion with a minor in Spanish. I went back for my teaching credential, administrative credential, and my masters in educational leadership,” Vasquez said.
Coming to El Rancho was an easy decision for Vasquez to make. Both of his in-laws are alumni, and they and their family inspired Vasquez to apply as soon as the position was announced.
“My father-in-law graduated here in 1973, and my mother in law graduated in 1974,” said Vasquez, “and all nine of their siblings and their children are graduates from El Rancho. Every party that I’ve ever been to on my wife’s side has been about [this school]!”
“Throughout the hiring process, I was confident and nervous,” Vasquez said. “Every time you go through an interview process you get nervous, but I knew that if I got the opportunity to interview the first time, then I would have a good chance of being in the finals. Now that I’m here I’m very excited.”
During his free time, Vasquez’s life revolves around sports practices and games.
“I have three children, and they all play sports,” Vasquez said. “My daughter, Brianna, is a senior at La Habra High School, and she is on the U.S. National Rugby team; she is in France representing the U.S. My older son, Brandon, is the quarterback of the freshman football team also at La Habra and plays baseball. My 10 year-old son, Bryce, plays football and baseball.”
Despite his busy personal life, Vasquez is passionate about his job as El Rancho’s instructional leader. “I get here early, and I leave late because I want to be here,” he said. “Any opportunity I have I’m either reading research about new strategies or practices, or I’m attending workshops.”
His plans as a principal include, “working with the staff this year on keeping the traditions of El Rancho intact but moving to 21st-century teaching and learning.” He’s also planning on making this school the best it can be for its students.
As for school events, Vasquez admits he’s looking most forward to graduation be- cause, “at the end of the year, my job as a principal is to make sure all of the seniors graduated and move on to bigger and better things. The Night Pep Rally is also a big event that I’m looking forward to, and any sporting event or academic competition.”
As a high school student, he also had a career as a DJ! “I like all kinds of music. I had my own equipment, my own group, and I DJ’d a lot of school dances and house parties. Vasquez wants every student to, “Have fun, but study harder because everything can be achieved through education.” “I’m blessed to be at El Rancho with our great staff and students,” Vasquez said. “I love the school and the community, and I hope that together we can achieve great things.”