The Cupertino Courier

Education

Principal praises students and staff

By Erin Hussey

You could say Kami Samaniego, Cupertino High School's new principal, was born into the family business. Her parents, grandmother, younger sister, brother-in-law and a number of her aunts and uncles are all school teachers.

"You really don't have anything to talk about at family gatherings if you don't teach," says Samaniego. "It's all in the family."

Although passionate about being an educator now, Samaniego initially didn't want to follow the family tradition.

As an undergraduate at Texas Tech University, Samaniego dreamed about a career in economics or journalism. While her family was supportive, they also suggested she get a teaching credential.

"My dad was always telling me, 'Go ahead, but get the teaching credential as backup.' "

Samaniego followed her father's advice and enrolled in teaching courses. She fell in love with the classes and, on her first day of student teaching, realized teaching wasn't her backup plan after all.

"I loved the kids, loved what I was doing, loved being in front of the room and getting them to do things and watching the light bulbs turn on," says Samaniego.

She began teaching after her graduation in 1986 and eventually moved to California to teach English and mathematics. She taught at De Anza High School in Richmond and then James Logan High School in Union City for 12 years.

In 1996, Samaniego received her master's degree from California State University-East Bay (then Cal State Hayward) and was named California Teacher of the Year in 2000, earning national board certification as a teacher of English language arts for adolescents and young adults.

She had also begun her move into school administration.

"You have a more direct role with students as a teacher and you are more connected to their individual issues and lives and I loved that," Samaniego says. "As an administrator you have some of those relationships but they are harder to develop. Instead of concentration on 150 kids, you are responsible for creating a safe haven for all of them."

While Samaniego praises both the students and staff at Cupertino High as being exceptional, she thinks there is always room for growth.

"I am really working with the staff to look at our data to set our goals. We are taking a real honest look at ourselves so that we can be reflective and always moving forward," she says.

"We want to graduate responsible, mature young people with integrity," she says. "Yes, they are smart and they are capable and they can read, write and calculate, but it is just as important that they are good people who can contribute to the community."