The four trustees of the Denair Unified School District will hold a special meeting Thursday night to interview and then select the person to fill the vacant fifth seat on the board.

The candidates are Tina Marie Gresio, Kenneth Austin Rickard and Carmen Wilson. They all submitted applications by the Aug. 19 deadline to fill the remaining 15 months in the term of longtime board member John Plett, who resigned Aug. 9 citing health reasons.

The remaining trustees — Kathi Dunham-Filson, Regina Gomes, Ray Prock Jr. and Crystal Sousa — decided to appoint Plett’s replacement rather than hold a costly special election. The term ends in November 2020.

Thursday’s special meeting begins at 7 p.m. The board will interview the three applicants in public, then will have an open discussion and vote that night to choose Plett’s successor. The new trustee will be sworn it at the Sept. 12 board meeting.

Gresio has lived in Denair for more than 20 years and has children attending Denair schools. She has been active volunteer in various community events, including Fourth of July and Halloween as well as  Boy Scouts and sports teams.

Rickard taught for 12 years in the Hughson Unified School District. He is a member of the Turlock Church of Christ and a former Denair Lion. He also has participated in community and sports events. Wilson has two children in Denair schools and has participated on school site committees. She works at the Center for Human Services in Modesto and has been a board member for the Stanislaus County Youth Development Committee and the Turlock American Little League, and taught Sunday school at Connection Point Church in Denair.

As if the excitement of putting on the pads and playing under the lights for the first time this season wasn’t enough for Denair on Friday night, the Coyotes received an inspirational boost before kickoff when a sign reading “2018 CIF State Champs, Division VII” was unveiled hanging on the west scoreboard at Jack Lytton Stadium.

Head coach Anthony Armas called the ceremony “pretty freaking cool” and the home crowd clearly agreed.

All the emotion may have been overwhelming to Denair’s players, though. They promptly gave up a touchdown on the opening drive to Millennium of Tracy.

The Coyotes quickly rallied behind a dominant offensive line and running back Dylan De Silva, who was a one-man wrecking crew on offense and defense. He ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns and also intercepted a pass on defense as Denair breezed to a 49-14 victory.

This is a busy and exciting week across the Denair Unified School District, with Back to School Nights planned at two campuses and the first high school football game of the season Friday night at home.

The events begin Tuesday with Back to School Night at Denair Elementary Charter Academy from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Parents are invited to come to their child’s classroom to meet teachers and hear presentations that begin at 5 p.m. and 5:40 p.m.

On Wednesday, it will be Denair Middle School’s turn from 5:30 to 7:10 p.m. Principal Amanda Silva will welcome parents and introduce staff beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Coyote Center, followed by classroom visits.

Denair Charter Academy – which features independent study for high school students and home school for grades K-8 – doesn’t hold a traditional Back to School Night. Instead, Principal Breanne Aguiar and her staff invite parents and students to attend a Fall Family Night on Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Denair High School also passes on Back to School Night, but there is plenty happening on campus. Clubs and fall sports are getting into full swing. None are more popular than football, which kicks off its 10-game season Friday at Jack Lytton Stadium against Millennium of Tracy.

Denair’s varsity team is coming off a magical season that saw it win the state Division VII championship. Its game begins at 7:30 p.m., following the JV contest at 5:30 p.m.

Fans are reminded that Fifth Quarter postgame festivities follow the varsity game. They will be at the Pizza Factory from 9 to 11 p.m. The Fifth Quarter is a partnership between the high school and the Church of the Nazarene

Submitted by Denair Unified School District:

Community members interested in filling a vacancy on the Denair Unified School District board are encouraged to attend a meeting tonight to learn more about the position.

The question-and-answer session begins at 7 p.m. at the district office. Community members who live within the district’s boundaries and are registered are eligible to apply.

Applications are available at the district’s office and also can be downloaded off the district’s website. Applications will be accepted Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Aug. 19.

The vacancy was created when longtime board member John Plett resigned Aug. 9, citing a need “to focus on my health.”

The remaining four trustees decided they will appoint Plett’s replacement rather than hold a costly special election. His term ends in November 2020.

On Aug. 29, Trustees Kathi Dunham-Filson, Regina Gomes, Ray Prock Jr. and Crystal Sousa will hold a special board meeting at 7 p.m. to interview all the applicants. After discussion, trustees will vote that night to choose Plett’s successor. The new trustee will be sworn it at the Sept. 12 board meeting.

Those with questions about the process should call Daisy Swearingen, executive assistant to superintendent and board, at (209) 632-7514, ext. 1202.

This is one in a series of Q&A’s with teachers new to Denair Unified in 2019-20

Family: I am married. My husband and I have two girls in junior high school.

School: Denair Charter Academy

Subject taught: Science

Experience and education: I am a local girl, graduating from Stanislaus State. I have a multiple subject credential with a science supplemental. I have been in education in a variety of capacities for more than 15 years.   

What attracted you to Denair? I was attracted to Denair by the opportunity to teach science across grade levels from kindergarten through high school. 

What most inspires you about teaching? I am most inspired in education when students give their testimonies of how teachers have impacted their lives, not only in the classroom, but also in steps to success in life.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? This year the challenge I am looking forward to tackling is making science come alive, in and out of the classroom.