Master of Arts in Teaching, 2002
School of Education
July 1, 2012
UCI Alumna Christina Giguiere, Multiple Subject Coordinator since 2007, Named New Principal of Tulita Elementary, Redondo Beach Unitied School District
Christina Giguiere will be bringing her wealth of experience and a strong work ethic to her new position as principal of Tulita Elementary in the Redondo Beach School District.
Throughout her professional and academic careers, Christina has successfully combined her desire for self-improvement with a commitment to service, both influenced by her belief in the potential of education to change lives.
In 1998, Christina Giguiere left the San Joaquin Valley to pursue an undergraduate degree at UC Santa Barbara. The day after graduation from Santa Barbara, she journeyed to UC Irvine to begin the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program as a Multiple Subject Credential candidate. Christina spent the summer of 2002 studying teachers as action researchers and exploring the challenges and passions of outstanding educators.
The M.A.T. program motivated Christina to become a teacher leader with a clear understanding of student engagement, classroom management, parent communication, and professional development. Following graduation she secured a teaching position at Turtle Rock Elementary in Irvine. After her first year of teaching Christina returned to higher education to earn a M.S. in Reading and Reading Specialist Credential through CSU Fullerton.
In the ensuing years Christina focused her efforts on curriculum, literacy, technology, and teacher education. Her teaching experiences, as well as the enjoyment of earning her advanced degrees in Orange County, eventually motivated Christina to consider a career in higher education. When she hosted a UC Irvine student teacher in the spring of 2007, she reestablished connections with faculty members at the Department of Education; and in July, she returned to the University where she had embarked on her journey in education almost six years before. As the new Department of Education Multiple Subject Program Coordinator, she dedicated herself to preparing pre-service teachers for their own rewarding careers in education.
During her time as Multiple Subject Coordinator Christina has played an integral role in the Credential Program as an administrator, instructor, advisor, and mentor to future elementary school educators. She has provided additional service to the department by establishing partnerships with area schools, arranging and hosting visits by area school children, and facilitating the creation of professional learning communities that bring together classroom teachers and university instructors.
In 2010, when Department Chair Deborah Lowe Vandell selected Christina to be the Director of Alumni Relations for the Department of Education, Christina reestablished connnections with credential, master’s, and doctoral alumni and arranged yearly events to connect faculty and graduates in exploring the latest findings from research and practice.
In announcing Christina’s new position, UC Irvine Director of Teacher Education Judi Conroy communicated:
With a measure of both joy and regret, I announce that Christina Giguiere, Coordinator of the Multiple Subject Program for five years now, is moving into a Principal position for the Redondo Beach School District. Christina has been the consummate leader, teacher, and employee. She has excellent people skills, adept teaching acumen, up to the minute technology awareness, and an infectious joy that influences everyone who works with or learns from her. She is not afraid to confront difficult issues, and for her the glass is always half full. I adopted one of my favorite expressions from Christina: “It’s all good!” (usually said when really it’s not all good, but a nice way to shift the energy to what we can do instead of what we can’t).
Christina will be a cutting-edge principal because she knows what effective teaching looks like. What a lucky school!