Gina Chaffin: Up close and personal with Santa Cruz’s new principal

Editor's note:Third in a three-part series on MUSD's newest principals.

Gina Chaffin, the new principal at Santa Cruz Elementary School, likes to ocean kayak when she’s not getting hugs from her students.

A Phoenix native, Chaffin is going into her 17th year in education, 11 in the classroom. She’s been an assistant principal for five years in Pinal and Maricopa counties.

Chaffin is joining four other elementary schools this year in developing a district charter school. She’s taking over for the retired John Flores.

She said she is excited to be using “Beyond Textbooks” program – a computer/technology-based program with a curriculum calendar to help teachers with what should be taught and when, a place to research lesson plans that fit their own teaching styles and a place to share what works best for them.

Chaffin said it’s a good tool for teachers as the whole state transitions to Common Core standards.

During her first days in the district, Chaffin said, “I learned I have a strong community here. It’s been a very welcoming feeling from the teachers and the community.”

Her school is one of the five MUSD elementary schools recently chartered and the 2013-14 school year will be about finding what works best.

“It’s important for all stakeholders to attend our site council meetings to help make decisions on what our academic focus should be,” Chaffin said, pledging to keep her school community in the loop at all times. “I am big on communicating.”

Chaffin, who has a daughter and granddaughter, said she loves the outdoors. She has “a little place” in Rocky Point, Mexico, where she kayaks.

Her top priority is student safety. “I base my decisions on students first. I am excited to meet all the kids.”

“What other career is there where you get hugs every morning?”

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