Jerwyn Carriger-Sendaydiego, Comprehensive School Improvement Director
Throughout my entire life, I learned to embrace diversity and sensitivity having experienced living in Vallejo and working throughout the region. For over 35 years, I continue to call Vallejo (Valle-YO) my home. I immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts from Baguio City, Philippines, with my parents and 3 older brothers at an early age of 7. Months later, we moved to Vallejo to be closer to extended family and first handedly experienced the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake weeks upon arrival. As memorable as the earthquake was for many, this was the same day I received my immunization shots and enrolled at Dan Mini to begin my journey as a student with Vallejo City Unified School District. With only a few months at Dan Mini, we moved across the city and I transferred to Cave Elementary School. I spent most of my grade school years at Cave and was a part of the last 6th grade class of the school. Going into Springstowne Junior High School, I was also a part of the last class of 9th graders prior to the school transitioning to a middle school. From there, I completed my secondary education at Jesse Bethel High School–graduating with the first senior class. I suppose the changes I experienced within VCUSD prepared me for what was to come next in the road I decided to take.
I completed my undergraduate studies at San Francisco State University, with a Bachelors of Psychology and a minor in Asian American Studies. Hoping to pursue a focus on serving at-risk communities through mental health, I obtained my Master of Arts degree in Counseling emphasizing in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s College of CA. I also included a secondary “just in case” credential in School Counseling in the event that providing therapy was not for me someday. While the roles I held and furthered education into a doctoral program in psychology came to a shift, I noticed my interests alway fell within education. As a mental health clinician, therapist, you name it, I always worked in school-based services–specifically in Special Education.
When I had the opportunity to join GTA as a school counselor and to finally work in my hometown, the active role I partnered with our administration and CMO increased my interest in a greater level of servitude to the school community. I made the most challenging decision to pivot my career, similar to a midlife crisis, but without the breakdowns and heartaches. This change into leadership, first as a Dean of Students, has brought significant value and a higher level of appreciation for the dynamic work that falls on the laps of administrators, teachers, and all of our support staff. The most important value I find in my role are the relationships I build with our students and their families. Seeing our students thrive in a safe and trusting environment that welcomes their diversity, life experiences, and everything in between are focuses for the work I continue to develop at MITA MS and within GTA.
Jerwyn Carriger-Sendaydiego
Assistant Director
(707) 552-6482