Principal

Dear Davis Community,

     My name is Ginelyn Kudsi and I am in my 6th year as Principal of Caroline Davis Intermediate School.  I am proud to say that I graduated from Davis School many years ago so I'm happy to be back in the community that taught me as a young 7th and 8th grader.

     I graduated from Oak Grove High School and went to UC Irvine and earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.  I then attended graduate school at San Jose State University and earned my Masters Degree in Social Work.  I have my Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work, Child Welfare and Attendance, and School Counseling.  I also have my Clear Administrative Services Credential.

     Prior to becoming Principal, I was the Assistant Principal for 3 years, and prior to that I was the school counselor for 15 years.  I am married to a high school Math teacher (who was also a Davis Intermediate graduate) and have 2 children.  I love spending time with my family and visiting the many lovely places in and around the Bay Area.  I enjoy U-Jam Fitness classes (cardio dance fitness) and you can find me taking many of these classes at gyms in and around San Jose.

     I believe in creating a positive and safe school environment.  I collaborate closely with our teachers and all staff in order to provide a safe environment for our students to learn.  I hope to inspire, engage, and encourage students to be the best they can be in and outside the classroom.   I enjoy working and talking with families and would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our school.

     At Davis School, we want to ensure that every student’s potential is achieved.  We want to create a successful middle school that engages students, staff, and community. Our vital signs provide insights into our student’s educational health and well-being at any point in time.  Davis Vital Signs are Student proficiency in all subjects through the use of equitable teaching practices, Student Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills, Student Sense of relatedness, belonging, and voice, and Student Acquisition of pertinent skills. Our four pillars are building blocks of our professional development which include Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning,  Supports for Collegial Collaboration and Accountability for All Staff, High Expectations for All, and Safe Climate and Strong Relationships with Families and Community. We have created a strong theory of action and professional learning plan which leads us to positively transform our school and lead the way with equitable practices and instruction, improving student outcomes and achievement.  We are focused on using the MTSS framework to align our practices and support around student academics, behavior, and social-emotional strengths and needs.  

    We work closely with educational partners and stakeholders throughout the district and analyze student performance data on an ongoing basis.  We have a professional learning plan calendar which helps us to create purposeful checkpoints throughout the year through staff meetings, leadership committees such as our Instructional Focus Team and Culture & Climate Team, and bimonthly Professional Learning Community Collaboration to give updates and gather feedback.

     We adhere to the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) philosophy of using positive incentives for students who display Excellence, Respect and Safety in all interactions. Our students earn Davis Dollars that are used in the on campus student store, receive public praise with the Triple E awards announced over the intercom weekly, and attend school spirit rallies that enhance their daily campus life. Our staff and students are spirited and our school culture is supportive, safe and fun.

     We welcome you to Davis Intermediate School and happily serve approximately 600 students . When our students leave us for high school they are prepared academically, socially and emotionally to take on the many demands of high school life and beyond. We are proud of our success rate! Although their time with us is short, our students return year after year and fondly remember their time spent as a Davis Raider. We invite you and your student to join us at Davis and look forward to getting to know you in the coming year!

Sincerely,
Ginelyn Kudsi, M.S.W.
Principal
gkudsi@ogsd.net