Los Altos Town Crier » MVHS Principal Hyland named ‘Champion’ for youth

By Sara Ballenger

$Image from article MVHS Principal Hyland named \'Champion\' for youth$

The Mountain View-Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Challenge Team honored Mountain View High School Principal Pat Hyland with the 2003 Challenge Team Champion for Youth award at its eighth annual benefit breakfast May 8.

Hyland received plaques from the cities of Mountain View and Los Altos and a certificate of appreciation from the California State Assembly for her activism and advocacy for youth in Santa Clara County.

Challenge Team, begun in 1987, is a community-based non-profit partnership of students, school districts, police departments, health service and community groups. The team focuses on preventing problems related to alcohol, tobacco and drugs in the community.

Rich Fischer, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District superintendent, presented Hyland with her award.

“I was really happy that Pat received this award,” Fischer said. “She has dedicated herself completely to the continuous improvement at MVHS, creating an atmosphere of teamwork among the staff and working to develop a very personalized and caring environment. Everyone who knows her realizes how much she cares about MVHS and the students who go there.”

The award was a complete surprise to Hyland, who has worked at Mountain View High for 11 years, the last six as principal.

“It’s a humbling experience,” Hyland said of her award. “You can look around this room and see so many people who deserve it.”

Hyland got into education because of her husband Bill, a teacher.

“I started out as an insurance salesperson with my dad’s insurance agency,” Hyland said. “It wasn’t nearly as much fun as Bill was having being a teacher, so I decided to go back and get my teaching credential.”

Susan Sweeley, president of the district’s board of trustees, is glad she did.

“I can’t think of anybody more deserving,” Sweeley said. “She does so much. It’s great having her in the district. Now we just have to clone her.”

Catherine Vonnegut, president of the Los Altos/Mountain View Parent-Teacher Association Council, said a hallmark of Hyland’s is that she is inclusive not only of all the students, as demonstrated by her decision to have open enrollment for the advanced Placement Honors classes, but also of the parent volunteers.

“She makes it easy for me to be the PTA president,” Vonnegut said. “She is inclusive of the volunteers and is open to working with us. Volunteers aren’t always welcome at the high school level.”