If you haven’t heard, there’s a new principal in town! Mr. Jeff Giles is the newest addition to the Mesa family, and he is excited to saddle up. On Friday, August 29, Mr. Giles granted us the opportunity to interview him and ask him all about himself and his goals for the future. Here’s what he shared.
Mr. Giles hails from Long Beach, California, and enjoys spending his free time by playing and watching sports such as golf. He also likes to spend free time with his family, including his two lovely daughters. He enjoys the fiery taste of chips and salsa, deeming it his favorite food. On his playlists you’ll find him enjoying the rhythmic sound of hip hop and 90/2000’s rap, speaking of himself as a “real hip-hop head.”
In earlier years, he attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for college. Leading up to Mesa, he was the principal at Esperanza, followed by working in a district office. When we asked about his first two weeks at Mesa, he stated, “It was great – I really enjoyed getting to know the students and understanding the vibe of the school.” He spoke of his goals for the school, “that every student would leave here and, when they look back at it, think that it’s the greatest years of their life.”
Mr. Giles has some great goals, but every goal comes with challenges. Something Mr. Giles said about how he handles his challenges, is that, “It depends on who you ask, but I would say, you can’t pretend they don’t exist, you have to see the challenges, acknowledge the reality of them, and figure out a way to solve it.” A piece of advice he has for all Mesa students is, “You can accomplish anything you’re willing to work hard for. Never let anybody else determine your future.”
The next time you’re walking to your next class during the passing period and see Mr. Giles’ new, but familiar face, make sure to give him a warm Mustang welcome.
