Gwen launched Project Access, a countywide initiative linking students and families to essential supports. Under her leadership, the annual Student Resource Fair provides free shoes, haircuts, school supplies, and wellness services through 20+ partner agencies. She also initiated community drives and fairs, including the Holiday Coat Drive with Hollister PD, Thanksgiving Food Drive with the Community Food Bank and Youth Recovery Connection, and the Countywide Health & Wellness Fair offering mental health and wellness resources.

As a Champion for All Students, Gwen has transformed special education through inclusive practices and innovation. She revamped programs for students with severe disabilities, introduced co-teaching in Hollister School District, and trained SPED teachers in multisensory reading strategies that boosted academic growth. Her countywide and statewide train-the-trainer model has equipped educators to build supportive, equitable, and student-centered schools. Gwen also leads implementation of legally sound special education programs, countywide PBIS and SEL frameworks, and integrated mental health supports for all students.

As a proud Filipina American, Gwen is one of the few Asian American leaders in the region  to hold a top-level educational role. She serves on the Board of CAAPLE and Regional Director for  (California Association of Asian and Pasifika Leaders in Education), mentoring AAPI educators across the state and lifting the voices of immigrant and underrepresented leaders.

Gwen lives in Hollister with her husband Ryan and their son Gabriel. As a mom herself, she understands what it means to trust a school system with your child’s future. That’s what motivates her work every single day.