Dr. Grace V. Ruiz Dr. Grace V. Ruiz has been named as the new principal at J. S. Gillett Intermediate School. The announcement was made at the regular meeting of the board of trustees of the Kingsville Independent School District held Tuesday night. Ruiz has been serving as principal of A.D. Harvey Elementary School the past year.

“I am happy to have the opportunity to go to Gillett and have heard great things about the staff and look forward to working with them,” Ruiz said Wednesday.

“ I believe in team effort,” she said. “Their input will be invaluable, and I intend to be receptive to all new ideas.”

Ruiz has held several positions with the Kingsville Independent School District.

She spent three years as assistant principal at Memorial Middle School from 2007-2010 and at KEYS Alternative/LASER Discipline Schools from 2004-2007.

Ruiz has worked as a special education teacher and coach at J.S. Gillett and from 1999 until 2001. She also worked at Memorial Middle School as physical education teacher and coach from 1994 until 1999.

Ruiz worked as an adapted physical education specialist at Kingsville ISD and other area school districts from 1991 until 1994.

She has other educational experiences outside of KISD. She worked as the special education teacher and coach at Cotulla High School in Cotulla from 1989 until 1991 and at Coldwell Intermediate School in El Paso from 1987 until 1989.

Ruiz was the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Texas A&M University-Kingsville from 1986 until 1987.

She was also a graduate assistant in the Department of Health and Kinesiology from 1985 to 1986.

She served as a lecturer in the Department in the Education at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2003.

Ruiz has an educational doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in teacher education and special education. She received the doctorate degree in August 2005 from the University of Houston. She received a midmanagement certification in Dec. 2003 and special education certification in 2002 from TAMUK.

Ruiz holds an M.S. degree in kinesiology with a specialization in Athletic Administration and Driver Education certification. She received that degree in 1987 Ruiz, an H.M. King High School graduate, received a B.S. degree in kinesiology with a second major in health education from Texas A&I in May 1985.

Gillett School has fifth and sixth graders.