Gilroy Unified School District
Teens Gravitate to Bioscience
A 2016 study reported that U.S. bioscience firms employ
1.66 million people, making this industry a leading performer
in our nation’s economy for the past 15 years, with stronger job
growth than other knowledge-driven, technology-based sectors
and the private sector overall. (bio.org). Looking ahead, demand
for medical scientists and biomedical engineers is expected to
continue growing at an annual rate of 8 percent and 23 percent
respectively through the year 2024 (bls.gov).
Gilroy High School’s Biomedical Science Academy provides an
education pathway for our local youth to explore these exciting
fields of study.
According to Superintendent Debbie Flores, “I can’t say
enough about this academy. By the time they graduate, our
students have completed eight AP/honors classes in Science and
four AP/honors classes in Math. Our young women and men
are graduating the academy well prepared for college degree
programs in the biosciences. Most are pursuing Pre-Med and
Biotechnology degrees in college.”
The Biomedical Science Academy was submitted for the
California School Boards Association’s (CSBA) Golden Bell Award.
Jennifer Spinetti is program coordinator for the Biomedical
Science Academy, a teacher in the program, and GUSD’s Teacher
of the Year (2016). She will be honored at the Santa Clara
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
County Teacher Recognition Celebration on Thursday, September
29th at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell (sccoe.org/trc).
Dr. Flores added that “The academy model has been so
successful and the interest from students is so strong that we’re
considering starting a second academy, with an Engineering and
Computer Science focus, at another one of our high schools.”
Students Flourish in Early College Setting
Gilroy Early College Academy (GECA) is the highest performing
early college academy in California, rated number ten among all
high schools in California. Now in its tenth year, GECA is a school
within a school, established with Measure P funds and housed on
the Gavilan College campus.
Freshmen take all of their required high school classes, which
may include various AP/Honors classes, plus one to two college-level
courses. By junior and senior year, they’re taking mostly college-level
classes and studying alongside Gavilan’s college students. They typi-
cally graduate high school with the equivalent of, or most of, an AA
degree. Some go on to graduate early from college.
Dr. Flores noted that GECA is not for every student, but those
who are “highly motivated, independent thinkers committed to
academic rigor” will flourish in this learning environment.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
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