By: Megan Saul

Editor-in-Chief

Known throughout the Los Gatos High School community for her warm demeanor and enthusiastic personality, beloved Assistant Principal Kristi Grasty is signing off. She has decided to retire after three decades of contributing selflessly to LGHS through her roles as a teacher, coach, and administrator.

Since the beginning of her career, Grasty has been interested in writing and journalism. After briefly pursuing a path to becoming a lawyer, she received a scholarship to study in Germany, where she realized her passion for teaching and the process of learning. After studying in various parts of the world, Grasty returned to the Bay Area, where she grew up. Although her career is within education, Grasty explained, “A lot of what I end up working on has some overlap with the law.” She continued, “There is an underpinning of all that I’m interested in. There is also a lot of writing and communicating you do as an educator. So, I feel like I’ve chosen the right profession, and you can do a lot with it. So really, I’ve found such a rewarding career. No regrets.”  

Grasty has held an administrative role at LGHS for the past 17 years. These roles include assistant principal in all domains and principal for five years. She expressed, “I just try to be helpful. It’s like an act of service to work in education, so wherever I’m needed, I’ve tried to help.” Grasty has found the most meaningful part of all of these roles to be working closely with students in a variety of contexts, including the Leadership class and the Green Team, stating simply, “That’s the joy of education.” Part of this joy includes initiatives that Grasty has implemented that are outside the box and create positive change. Particularly, Grasty detailed the school’s food service transformation and its major influence on our community and those nearby. By engaging in back-and-forth communication about the issue and the best way to reach the solution, Grasty and the other organizers created a solution where LGHS students have access to free, delicious meals during the school day. Referring to this collective effort, she explained, “Nothing in education you do alone. It’s always in partnership and collaboration with passionate students and staff.”

In retirement from LGHS, Grasty plans to continue her involvement in education through teaching. After earning her doctorate in 2023, she has been teaching at the college level at the University of California, Santa Cruz and San Jose State University. Now, she looks forward to teaching new teachers. Grasty reflected, “I feel like I’ve come full circle. Now I can motivate, inspire, and help teach people just starting in the profession. I’m probably going to continue doing that.”

Grasty is leaving enormous shoes to fill at LGHS. She concluded, “It’s a really special school, and it’s been a joy to be a part of. I’m very honored to have worked here for as long as I have, so I’m going to miss that life force that is Los Gatos High School.” Likewise, the school will miss her calming presence, devoted care, and constant kindness.