14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 25-JULY 1, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Before of end of the school year, 14 out of 17 teachers at Pajaro Middle School sent a letter on May 8 to Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras, declaring a no-confidence vote against their principal Nicole Killian, citing lack of leadership and failure to ensure a safe environment for students and staff. Since then, parents and teachers have shown up at PVUSD board meetings demanding Killian’s reassignment. On the verge of tears and in a faltering voice, Maria Cortes, a mother of two students at Pajaro Middle, demanded the removal of Killian during a board meeting on June 17. She wants a new principal “that gives us peace that our children are safe. We have to make a change now,” Cortes told the board. Crystal Martin, a fifth-grade teacher at Ohlone Elementary School, spoke as well. “My own son has reported concerns about students drinking and using drugs in bathrooms and locker rooms on campus,” she told the board. “Every family should feel confident that their children attend a school where concerns are addressed, staff are respected, and students’ well-being comes before protection of an ineffective administrator.” In the letter, teachers alleged Killian doesn’t adequately investigate altercations and doesn’t properly follow safety protocols. The letter cites two cases. One was on March 5, when Watsonville Police and Monterey County Sheriff’s officers were in pursuit of Sergio Rangel, a man with several warrants, through Pajaro. “Witnesses reported that law enforcement had weapons drawn,” the letter states. It also alleges Killian didn’t respond to radio calls during the incident and criticized staff who launched lockdown procedures. Another incident is a threatening email a student sent to one of the teachers. “You better change my grade, or I’m gonna shoot you,” the student reportedly wrote. Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers Local 1936, says proper procedures were not followed. (California education code requires reporting the incident to law enforcement.) Diniz says the teachers’ position is in response to the lack of addressing staff concerns for the past two years. “They had no trust in the leadership of their principal,” he says. Diniz adds that students have been caught selling drugs or drinking alcohol on campus. “There have been instances where students have brandished a dagger or knife,” he says. PVUSD said in a statement that the information circulating doesn’t offer a whole picture of the situation. “The district takes all reports related to safety and school operations seriously. Student and staff safety remain our highest priority, and concerns brought forward are reviewed through established processes to ensure they are addressed appropriately,” the statement reads. “We remain confident in our site leadership and their commitment to providing a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment.” School Day Pajaro Middle School teachers and parents demand the principal’s removal. By Celia Jiménez Brandon Diniz says teacher concerns include safety, prompting them to push for the removal of a principal. “They had no confidence that she was able to keep the staff and students safe,” he says. NEWS “They had no trust in the leadership of their principal.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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