The GPS Family: A Place to Call Home

The "GPS Family" is more than a phrase. It is an authentic feeling defined by the people who make it happen every day. To help us describe what the GPS Family culture feels like, we spoke with staff members from across the district's five comprehensive high school pipelines who are also parents of GPS students. In these semi-structured interviews, staff members shared their unique experiences of being a part of the GPS Family. Their stories and experiences demonstrate a consistent culture felt across all campuses, built on four simple values: Connect, Create, Care, and Contribute.

A Place to Call Home
Describing a school culture as a “close-knit family” seems like a cliché. At GPS, this family culture is something felt across the district, and it's what makes each campus a place to call home. Despite the district’s growth in Gilbert and Mesa, staff and parents agree it has maintained its "small-town feel" where "everybody knows everybody." For Jami Hagen, a math teacher at Greenfield Junior High, this feeling is what makes  GPS feel "more homegrown" than in other places where staff might “feel like a number."

The personal connections made at GPS schools are also a key contributor to this family feeling. Brianna Melo, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Towne Meadows Elementary, felt it right away, saying that when she met the staff, "There was a genuine warmth and kindness that made us feel like we had arrived in the right place at the right time. It wasn’t just about enrolling at a new school - it was about becoming part of a community that truly cares." 

John Karoly, a Physical Education teacher at several elementary schools in the district, had a similar experience, noting that the school "just felt like home." Erica Karoly, the Assistant Principal at Oak Tree Elementary and wife of John Karoly, added, "Every school has a unique personality to it, but you can tell they all work together towards one common goal for our students." This sense of personal connection is one reason why the culture at GPS is so welcoming, a feeling so strong that Jami Hagen calls her school her “second home." She adds that this feeling is made possible by visible school and district administrators who aren't just "stuck in an office," but are present and accessible. Dr. Ryan Darrow, a Special Education teacher at Desert Ridge High, added, “The district office, the Desert Ridge High School administration, the social studies department, and my colleagues… all went out of their way to help me acclimate when I joined the school midyear.”

This sense of belonging is something so strong that families actively seek it out. For Melanie Paeto, an Instructional Assistant at Quartz Hill Elementary, the drive in from a different district boundary every day is worth ensuring her children are in Gilbert Public Schools. For John and Erica Karoly, the decision was a much bigger one, having moved all the way from Pennsylvania with their three children to attend GPS. After researching the community from a distance, the Karolys said, "It was just a really tight-knit community of people working together.” The family even went on a tour to make sure Oak Tree Elementary was a good fit for them and felt a genuine, welcoming culture that they instantly connected with. “It was always going to be Gilbert… the community just felt very home-like”, they added.

Nurturing Growth, Together
Gilbert Public Schools is committed to helping every person grow, a value felt throughout every level across the district. GPS is dedicated to personal growth for students and staff by providing a wide variety of opportunities available to all. Erica Karoly sums it up by saying the district "offers so many opportunities for a child in the classroom and outside the classroom." Dr. Darrow added that this nurturing environment led to his son winning a state powerlifting championship, and the school invited the teacher to serve as the "Voice of the Jaguars."

Dr. Darrow also says he felt so supported by his administration outside of campus, as he was able to earn his master's degree while teaching, with his administrative leaders ensuring he prioritized his family. Shelley Bartholomew, a SPICE Paraprofessional who has been with GPS for 12 years, describes this supportive feeling by saying, "Everybody cares. They take the time to stop, find out what the problem is, and how they can help." It's a collective effort of caring and ensuring every student or staff member feels that they are supported.

Validated by Experience
Gilbert Public Schools’ welcoming reputation is confirmed by the experiences of the people who make up the community. The district’s ability to foster a sense of home and belonging is so powerful that many who have worked in and left the district for other opportunities have found their way back to GPS. Melanie Paeto talked about her experience leaving GPS and finding her way back, saying, “I had one year where I went to see if the grass was greener somewhere else. I decided to come back to GPS and was welcomed with open arms.” The GPS family culture is so welcoming and “home-like” that it not only brings people back but also keeps them connected. Between the cultural togetherness and the over 100-year history of the district, Gilbert Public Schools has had the opportunity to serve families for multiple generations. For example, Jami Hagen is not only a product of GPS schools but has also worked in the district for over 25 years. Her son, who also graduated from GPS schools, now teaches alongside her at Greenfield Junior High.

Connect, Create, Care, Contribute
The story of the GPS Family is one of shared values and purpose, a culture where people truly Connect, Create, Care, and Contribute to something bigger than themselves. The "close-knit family" feeling is a sense of belonging so strong that it keeps staff and families connected through multiple generations and all across the country. This culture is built on a foundation of genuine care for others, which provides students with a world of opportunity to create their own unique paths and empowers staff members to build the careers they've always envisioned. 

To learn more about the culture at Gilbert Public Schools, visit GilbertSchools.net/About. To learn more about individual schools, including enrollment information, visit GilbertSchools.net/Our-Schools.