Cruz Berumen Flores, learning director at Pacheco High School, has been recognized as the Secondary Co-Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) District 9.
With a career in public education spanning over 15 years, Flores has demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering student success and community engagement.
Flores began her career in public education in 2010 and has spent the past three years serving as learning director at Pacheco High School.
When asked about her transition into administration, she explained that her passion for student engagement and community outreach motivated her to take on a leadership role.
“One of the reasons why I decided to move into administration was because I felt that I had expanded my capacity as a teacher with my volunteer work, the extracurricular activities I was doing in regards to connecting with students and families in the community,” Flores said. “I wanted a platform where I could take new initiatives and follow through with those projects.”
As learning director, Flores oversees the school’s English Language Learner program and organizes Pacheco High School’s annual multicultural night, which has grown into a major community event.
“We’ve had over 3,500 guests, and we are now on year 11,” she said. Flores’s multicultural event began around 2014 when Pacheco High School was still a smaller institution.
“Our first event had 200 people, and it was a big success for us. As we continued to include more community members and partners, it grew into a tradition for our school,” she said. “It’s really student-driven and student-organized. My role is to help build their leadership as they take charge of the event.”
She was nominated for the award by her former principal, Dr. Daniel Sutton, who now holds a district leadership role.
“I think it’s a testament to the programs I have been part of and the investment of my time paying off—not just for me, but for the community,” Flores said. “For example, in my role, I was able to create a community collaborative initiative offering family workshops every other month. These workshops focus on communication and language development, incorporating hands-on activities like piñata-making, painting, dancing and movement.”
Flores believes that student success is deeply connected to cultural awareness and collaboration.
“I truly believe that it’s required to have collaboration and connection with culture. Expanding cultural experiences expands language capacity and fosters inclusivity and respect,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of social capital. “In my definition, social capital means building connections and relationships as much as we can—whether it’s with families, students or our teams.
“Creating strong student-family and community relationships allows us to achieve greater things together,” Flores said.
Flores sees the school as a central hub for community resources.
“When families express a need—whether it’s learning about social-emotional skills or parenting—we find a way to bring in those resources,” she said.
Programs such as free English classes through Rosetta Stone, held on Mondays and Wednesdays, are among the initiatives Flores has helped implement.
“We identify the needs of our families and connect them with available resources. If we don’t have them, we collaborate with outside institutions and organizations.
“We want families to feel like we are partners in their success because their success at home is directly connected to success at school,” she said.
Flores has ambitious plans for the upcoming school year, including launching a summer language academy for both parents and students, particularly benefiting the school’s migrant family population.
Another initiative involves sending high school students to elementary schools to read to younger students and lead small-group activities.
“It serves a dual purpose—our students get to practice and expand their skills while also inspiring younger students to see the possibilities ahead of them,” she said.
Flores’s leadership approach centers on seeing each individual as a person first. “I always make an effort to recognize that people are not just resources—they are a world of their own. I take the time to get to know them personally,” she said. “If you ever attend one of our events, you’ll see me rolling up my sleeves and working alongside students. I’m a visionary, but I let students take the lead. Our events are student-centered and student-driven.”
When asked what advice she would give to those looking to make a meaningful influence in school administration, Flores emphasized the importance of understanding and valuing others.
“My number one piece of advice would be to truly get to know the people around you and recognize the treasure within them.
“We often judge what we don’t understand, so investing time in learning about people’s needs and strengths creates an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive,” Flores said.
Flores credits her growth as a leader to the people around her. “I am a lifelong learner. Every person who crosses my path is my teacher. I learn from what they do, what they don’t do, and even from mistakes—sometimes learning what not to do is just as valuable.
“I can’t pinpoint just one person who has influenced me because I have an entire circle of people who contribute to my improvement as a human being and a leader,” she said.
