WELCOME: Mr. Michael Gull is Poly’s new Assistant Principal for attendance.
By Caroline Iglesias, Staff Writer
After Mr. Brian Frost retired in 2016, Poly High School selected Mr. Michael Gull to fill his spot. His job requires management of student attendance in addition to overseeing both the math and science departments.
Gull has worked in the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) since 2007. However, the education in public school system was not Gull’s first career choice. Before he began to work for RUSD, Gull worked for different healthcare administrations, including Molina Healthcare and AXIA Healthcare. But Gull soon realized his calling was in a different field. “All of a sudden, one day I woke up and said, ‘You know what? I really want to teach and work in a classroom,’” Gull said. He always knew he wanted to teach, but working for healthcare administrations was “a default because my dad was a physician and had connections, so it was easy to find a job,” Gull stated.
Before settling in Riverside to work for the school district in 2007, Gull moved around often. Born in the Inland Empire, Gull received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Redlands, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Brandman University in Irvine. His career in healthcare administrations also demanded frequent traveling in the western region of the United States. “I don’t miss that; I like being home in the evenings versus being on a plane or in a hotel,” Gull expressed.
From 2003 to 2013, Gull worked as a United States History teacher at Martin Luther King High School before he was promoted to the district office as a Staff Development Specialist in RUSD’s Instructional Services. His job was to overlook the district’s Teaching American History (TAH) Grant. When the grant ended in 2013, Gull returned to teaching history— this time at Poly. However, his time as an Honors United States History teacher at Poly came to a quick end when he was promoted to the Instructional Services Specialist for 7-12 History-Social Science and K-12 Interventions in 2014.
Gull is proud to be part of the Poly community. “It is very much like a family. Between staff members and students, we are the oldest high school, and overall, there’s a lot of pride,” Gull said. Gull feels very connected with the school given its heritage and family members who have previously attended. “It gives me a special feeling to know that I’m part of something that my own family has been part of as well,” Gull said.
“Poly has a long list of accomplishments and accolades that I think needs to be celebrated and remembered,” Gull said. Luckily, Poly seems to have made a choice they will not regret. Gull has a yearning passion for his job and the school he represents. The attendance office is sure to shine to its fullest potential in Gull’s capable hands.