Dr. Gabriel Trujillo serves as the Superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District, a position he has held since September 2017. With six years of dedicated service to the Tucson Unified community, he oversees the education and well-being of 40,000 students and families, as well as the operations of 89 schools and programs. The Tucson Unified School District not only serves as the state’s 3rd largest K-12 educational system, but also one of its most diverse ethnically and academically. The district is home not only to one of the largest Special Education and English Language Learner student populations, but home to one of the largest Gifted and Talented student populations in the state as well.

 

Under Dr. Trujillo's guidance, the district has made significant strides in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusivity for all students as demonstrated by the dramatic expansion of access to Two Way Dual Language Programs and advanced course taking opportunities across the district. As a result of these impressive strides, the district achieved a monumental milestone in its history by gaining full and unconditional release from court supervision in its long-standing Desegregation Order. Having grown up in Arizona and having graduated from the Peoria Unified School District, Dr. Trujillo is a product of Arizona public schools. His commitment to education spans over 25 years, during which he has served in various roles, including classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, Human Resources Director, and Assistant Superintendent.

 

Since assuming the role of Superintendent, Dr. Trujillo has witnessed remarkable academic progress within Tucson Unified schools. In the 2021-2022 school year, over 40% of district schools improved their respective letter grades, with a noteworthy 20% increase in A and B-rated schools as evaluated by the Arizona Department of Education.

 

Dr. Trujillo is an unwavering advocate for music education and the arts, striving to provide students with ample opportunities to explore these areas. Under his leadership, the district has invested significantly in expanding fine arts and music education programs. This includes restoring music teaching positions, initiating a comprehensive instrument purchase and repair program, and acquiring new uniforms for band and fine arts programs throughout the district.

 

Dr. Trujillo exhibits the same passion for Career and Technical Education (CTE), which has seen a nearly-doubled enrollment of 7,000 students in CTE courses over the past six years. To further support CTE, innovative new programs and facilities, such as the Dental Assistant and Diesel Engine Repair programs at Santa Rita High School, have been established, alongside the district's first CTE-focused high school, Innovation Tech.

 

Under Dr. Trujillo's leadership, the Tucson Unified School District places a strong emphasis on investing a substantial portion of its budget directly into the classroom. More than 73% of the district's budget is allocated to instructional support, professional development for teachers, and student support services. These investments also extend to the expansion of exceptional preschool programs and before and after-school childcare programs throughout the district.

 

Dr. Trujillo's dedication and accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. In 2018, he was recognized as the Superintendent of the Year by the Arizona Music Education Association, and in 2022, he received the Superintendent of the Year award from the Arizona Association for Latino Administrators and Superintendents. Additionally, he serves as a board member for the Arizona Business Education Coalition, the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Heart Association, and Tucson Values Teachers.

 

 A proud graduate of Arizona State University, where he obtained his master's and doctoral degrees, Dr. Trujillo remains committed to serving the Tucson Unified community, ensuring academic success, access, and opportunity for every child. He envisions a culture of excellence in customer service, family engagement, and community involvement at every school, every day.

 

 

The Rotary Club of Tucson was honored to have Fletcher McCusker lead us in a personal downtown walking tour. We started off at the new 5-star Leo Kent Hotel which anyone who goes downtown should check out. We then stopped in the lobby of the historic Chase Bank which is closing. The architecture is spectacular, and an announcement will be forth coming on what exciting new venture will occupy that space. From there we continued down Congress where Fletcher was telling us of the MANY new restaurants that will be opening (3 in the next 60 days) along with the one that will occupy the historic Indian Hoop Village in about a year. Our next stop was the Copper Room Jazz Club located in the historic Hotel Congress. We capped off the event with about half our group stopping for some great fellowship in the new Juniper Gin Bar and the other half in the lobby bar back at the Leo Kent. It was a great event enjoyed by everyone. For any nonmembers reading this post you should consider checking out the Rotary Club of Tucson. We do great things for the community and have fun in the process.

 

The car show being just around the corner means there are plenty of exciting opportunities for you to get involved, have a superb time, and contribute to the success of the event. Selling our raffle tickets is a fantastic way to support our fundraising efforts. Your efforts in selling tickets will directly contribute to the funds raised for charities.

 

Additionally, volunteering at the car show will help ensure its smooth operation and provide you with a chance to be actively involved in the event. You can assist with various tasks such as event setup, registration, parking coordination, crowd management, or even helping with the concessions area.

 

Lastly, make sure to have a superb time at the show! Car shows are not just about fundraising; they are also about celebrating the passion and love for automobiles. Take the opportunity to explore the impressive display of vehicles, interact with fellow car enthusiasts, and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere. Enjoy the entertainment, food, and various activities that the car show has to offer. Your enthusiasm and positive energy will contribute to the overall experience for everyone involved.

All members, please be sure to attend the Nov. 1^st lunch meeting where we will mix, mingle, and introduce 14 Service Projects our Club will focus on this year.

 

You will have the opportunity to rotate through 3 tables (of your choice) to hear about plans for that project from the Rotary Team Leader. See a list of the projects below.

 

Members are not obligated to participate in any service projects, but we hope after learning of the many opportunities, one will entice you.

 

We are offering these Service Projects after many members indicated in the survey they were interested. Participating in a Service Project is one of the best ways to get to know your fellow Rotarians, and it is keeping with our core principle of Service Above Self. This year, for the first time, we will recognize members for service and we’re working on some great year-end prizes.

 

The Projects:

We will be streaming our weekly meetings live via our YouTube Channel.  We are encouraging you all to subscribe to our Channel in order to receive notices of when the meetings are streaming live.  After the live meeting, this video will become a recording and immediately posted on our YouTube Channel.  To view live CLICK HERE.   You can also go to our Home Page of the Club website and click on the YouTube link on the right hand side of the page, or go to YouTube and search Rotary Club of Tucson.