Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District

Los Gatos High School Teacher Selected for
Project Cornerstone Asset Champion Award

Los Gatos, January 31, 2023: The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD) is proud to announce that Annameekee Hesik, an English Teacher and Basketball Coach at Los Gatos High School, has been selected as the Positive Cultural Identity award recipient for the 2023 YMCA Project Cornerstone’s Asset Champion Awards. Annameekee will be honored at the in-person breakfast on March 17, 2023 at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

 

Chosen for helping young people feel supported, comfortable, and proud of their identity, Annameekee is a celebrated role model who is a constant positive presence on the Los Gatos High School campus, including being an advisor for the school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and a panel moderator for LGHS “Celebrate Diversity Week.”

 

A champion for youth, Annameekee aims to make her classroom a welcoming and safe environment for all learners. When Annameekee was looking for books to bring into her classroom library, she looked for books that would be representative of her LGBTQ students and show students how to appreciate and be proud of their cultural and personal identities. When she couldn’t find the specific books she wanted, she wrote them herself by creating “The You Know Who Girls” series, which has a diverse cast and focuses on one high schooler's journey of coming out and finding her joy along the way.

 

“I have had the opportunity to speak to Annameekee’s clubs and classes on multiple occasions and can attest to the inclusive and genuine ambiance she so naturally creates,” shared Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson. “She inspires students and staff and continuously serves as a role model for both youth and adults on campus.”

 

The YMCA Project Cornerstone Asset Champions Awards event will be held for the first time in person in four years. Award recipients include organizations and individuals who support Project Cornerstone’s mission of building a support network so that young people can grow into healthy, caring, and responsible adults. Registration and ticket sales are available through Eventbrite and close on March 2, 2023:      https://assetchampions2023.eventbrite.com

About the YMCA of Silicon Valley and Project Cornerstone
YMCA of Silicon Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, YMCA of Silicon Valley serves 250,000 members and participants — regardless of age, income, or background — by nurturing the potential of children and teens, improving health and well-being, and providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. For more information, visit: www.ymcasv.org.

About Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District is a thriving learning community that supports all students to develop the skills, passions, confidence, and resiliency to pursue college and/or career pathways. Home to Los Gatos High School and Saratoga High School, our students are lifelong learners who demonstrate personal integrity, social responsibility, and positive physical and mental health. Members of the LGSUHSD community make meaningful and positive contributions to the world.