Quick Take
Pajaro Middle School survived catastrophic flooding in 2023, but now faces a different challenge: a breakdown in trust between teachers, administrators and the district, writes Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers Local 1936. Teachers cite safety concerns, poor communication and inadequate responses to serious incidents, he writes. In May, 88% of teachers said they had no confidence in principal Nicole Killian’s leadership. District leaders, Diniz says, can no longer dismiss the concerns as a labor dispute and must address the serious issues the school faces.
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Pajaro Middle School is flooding once again, but this time, instead of water, the campus is drowning in incompetence from the principal and lack of communication from the district, which is causing teachers to feel unsafe at work.
Following devastating flooding in March 2023, the school, which serves 395 kids grades 6-8, reopened in 2024 with only a part-time principal. Even when it reopened, the school needed to rebuild more than just a few classrooms. The staff made school culture and climate a priority, and thanks to their efforts, the principal, Nicole Killian, was transitioned to a full-time position on Oct. 21, 2024.
The teachers and staff hoped having a full-time administrator would alleviate problems with supervision and discipline and enhance adherence to the procedures and protocols established in the school site safety plan.
Unfortunately, the situation did not improve. Teachers felt their safety was at risk so often that in 2025, six teachers filed a grievance with Pajaro Valley Unified School District. The district says it looked into the claims and found nothing wrong in the way Killian acted. But teachers do not know what led the district to that conclusion or why all six claims were dismissed.
No one, it seems, is working to make these teachers feel safer or communicating about the process. Why is the district remaining so removed?
This year, teachers came back from winter break with hope for improvement. That lasted for a month. Poor communication continues as do teacher complaints. Since January, teachers have complained that Killian has failed to adequately address:
- Drug sales on campus.
- Weapons on campus and threats against a student.
- Improper response during lockdown.
- Inappropriate support for students after an attack on a classmate.
The district and Killian continue to downplay staff concerns. On May 14, teachers responded by taking a vote of no confidence in Killian’s leadership. It was supported by 14 of the 17 teachers, or 88% of them, and 71 pages of documentation.
Still, the district has not stepped in to remedy the situation or offer any help to the staff. Teachers feel abandoned. Spokesperson Alejandro Chávez calls the complaints a “labor dispute” and says they have no substance.
Teachers disagree. They see safety and management issues. If 88% of the staff is unhappy with the leadership, isn’t it time for action?
Pajaro deserves a school where parents feel confident sending students and where teachers feel safe in the classroom.
Right now, the loss of trust between the principal and the staff makes this impossible. For PMS to rebuild, the school needs better communication and a principal who will make the safety of teachers and students a high priority.
Brandon Diniz is the president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers Local 1936.
