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CULTIVATED IN ALISAL
Homegrown Heroes
The Alisal Union School District (AUSD) can trace its history to the founding of Monterey County when in 1850, soon after California was admitted into the Union, the county was divided into five townships. According to “Schools in Monterey County,” a document produced in 1939 by a Monterey County librarian, Alisal Township was one of the five original towns in the county, and in keeping with tradition, these townships were soon declared “common school districts.”
There is a rich cultural and educational history in the Alisal and many AUSD alumni have gone on to contribute to society in diverse ways. “Cultivated in Alisal: Homegrown Heroes” is a first attempt to begin a systematic documentation and celebration of that history. We’ll be highlighting our alumni, beginning with employees, men and women who walked through our halls, sat in our classrooms, went on to carve their path in society and returned to the District to give back to our students. They’re everyday heroes, and we celebrate their contributions to our students’ success. Their history is our history, and we are the better for it.
In addition to our employee alumni, we’d love to include in our documentation and celebration of our homegrown heroes AUSD alumni that have gone on to contribute to society, wherever that may be.
Let us know if you, or somebody you know, attended the Alisal Union School District and would like to be featured in “Cultivated in Alisal Homegrown Heroes” We want to hear from you. Please fill out this form to take the first step.
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Jacqueline, Jeannette and Julie Mejia Cardona — Cultivated in Alisal
"We came back to show people they were wrong, and that’s why we want to advocate for our students."
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Luis xago Juarez — Cultivated in Alisal
"The power of homegrown theater can unpack the messy and the beautiful and allow us to recognize our value as residents"
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Miriam Lopez-Ramirez — Cultivated in Alisal
"It was magical, even if you were in 6th grade, you liked being there.”
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Maricela Cruz — Cultivated in Alisal
"I’m proud to be from here. I want this place to be seen as a good place to visit and to shop."
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Jonathan Rome — Cultivated in Alisal
"I’m able to speak Spanish and able to speak about culture. I owe that to (the fact) that I come from here.”
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Adela Hernández — Cultivated in Alisal
"Sometimes the parents come here and need someone to heart them out and help them."
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María Aguilar — Cultivated in Alisal
“I'm humbled to be here, I 'm happy to be contributing back to my community,”
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Jackie Moser — Cultivated in Alisal
"To me, she represents a bygone era of what a professional should be like.” — Laura Sánchez
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Susanne Contreras — Cultivated in Alisal
"I believe in keeping an open door policy because so many kids are in need"
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Sharon Nichols — Cultivated in Alisal
"Our students are getting help from what I learn and they’re getting that extra bit of love."
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Max Estrada — Cultivated in Alisal
"It's possible to create positive change through whole student support"
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Roberto Rodríguez-Flores — Cultivated in Alisal
"It’s great when you go outside and the kids call your name, it makes your day."