By CAITLIN PEARSALL
For the Bulletin
Three new administrative appointees — including a new permanent principal for Stella Brockman School — were made by the Manteca Unified School District board.
They are:
*Heather Gutierrez as the principal of Stella Brockman Elementary School.
*Hans Schmitz as the new coordinator of MUD Student Services.
*Jody Burriss as MUSD newest Senior Director overseeing special education.
Gutierrez, who has served as Stella Brockman’s interim principal since July, is a product of Manteca Unified.
She attended Brock Elliott Elementary and graduated from Sierra High School.
“I am honored for the opportunity to continue to serve the Stella Brockman community,” Gutierrez said. “I look forward to building upon our positive school culture focused on creating a safe and engaging learning environment where all students can be successful.”
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Stanislaus State and attended Teachers College of San Joaquin for her teaching credential, administrative credential, and master's degree.
She started her teaching career as a substitute teacher for Manteca Unified and Stockton Unified, eventually teaching junior high for both districts.
Before joining Stella Brockman last summer, she served as vice principal of Joshua Cowell Elementary for three years.
In her role as interim principal of Stella Brockman, Gutierrez worked to develop positive and productive relationships with students, staff, and the community.
She also committed herself to creating an environment built on trust and putting students’ needs at the center of all decisions. As the school’s appointed principal, she looks forward to building upon these goals moving into the spring term and beyond.
Schmitz is currently in his 19th year in education and his 7th year with Manteca Unified School District.
In his time in education, he has served as a Teacher, Educational Non-Profit Director, Educational Technology Expert, Board President of Cornerstone Preparatory Academy, and most recently as the Vice Principal at Sierra High School.
“This is an amazing opportunity and next step in my career,” Schmitz said. “My goal has always been to make the largest and most positive impact in students’ lives. This role will provide me with the chance to broaden my impact as well as help Manteca Unified continue to navigate an ever-evolving educational setting. I’m honored to be able to work on a team that is dedicated to the success of every student: educationally, socially, and emotionally.”
The Coordinator of Student Services is dedicated to enhancing the well-being and academic success of students.
Responsible for implementing and maintaining student services and resources, the Coordinator identifies and assesses student needs, ensuring early detection and intervention through screening and evaluation services.
Serving as a resource, they interpret and communicate student needs, facilitating collaboration between students, parents, teachers, and other professionals.
Additionally, the role will be a team leader for staff to collect and analyze student data for social-emotional intervention. With a focus on attendance, the Coordinator addresses issues related to removing barriers, monitors attendance, and communicates with parents and guardians to resolve attendance problems.
Having spent a significant amount of his career developing programming, services, and thinking through systems, Schmitz is thrilled to be moving into a position where he can make a wider impact for all. In a district as large as MUSD, there are a lot of initiatives and services for students. Understanding how to align them, where they overlap, and how to support school sites to effectively and efficiently implement them is a task that he looks forward to.
Burriss, who oversees Manteca Unified’s Special Education Department, has supported students in MUSD for over 23 years.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Stanislaus, and a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of the Pacific. Initially joining the district as a School Psychologist, Dr. Burriss has served in various roles, including Program Specialist, Coordinator, and Director.
“All students are general education first and special education is a service, not a place,” Burriss said. “Data-based decision-making, open and honest communication, and family engagement are foundational components which I hope to further foster. I am excited for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to serve the students, families, and community in MUSD.”
As the Senior Director overseeing Manteca Unified School District's Special Education Department, Dr. Burriss’ role is pivotal in ensuring optimal support for students with identified needs.
Collaborating with various departments, the Senior Director manages and supervises all special education program operations, including budgeting and compliance. Serving as the Local Education Agency Director in the San Joaquin Special Education Local Plan area (SELPA), they actively participate in the Special Education Council, identifying program needs, advising on policy development, and reporting on operations.
Additionally, they play a crucial role in staff development and recruitment and serve as a liaison to community agencies such as mental health clinics, embodying a leadership position that contributes significantly to the district's policies and commitment to inclusive education.
