New school is first in district to be named after a woman

The new elementary school opening next year at Temperance and Clinton avenues is the first in Clovis Unified School District to be named after a woman educational leader.

CUSD’s Board of Directors at its Sept. 23 meeting accepted the recommendation from parents and school employees to dub the campus Virginia R. Boris Elementary, after Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Boris.

Boris served the district as a math teacher, principal and curriculum leader from 1971 until her retirement in 2008.

“I am humbled, overwhelmed and honored because I love this district,” said Boris upon learning of the board’s action. “I cannot think of a higher honor that you could bestow upon me than by putting my name on a place that is devoted to learning and teaching.”

Boris was a math teacher at Clovis High School when she joined the district, and then pioneered the establishment of new schools and departments as the district grew. She helped open the district’s second high school, Clovis West, in 1976, then became principal of Kastner Intermediate in 1985. She led the Buchanan Area as its superintendent beginning in 1990, and then led the district’s curriculum and instruction division starting in 1994.

Today, Boris remains active in mentoring educators through work at Fresno State and in the Central Valley Educational Leadership Institute, said district spokeswoman Kelly Avants.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 10:49 AM with the headline "New school is first in district to be named after a woman."