Mr Alex Garcia is starting his first year as the head of maintenance in the fall of 2021. This will be Mr Garcia’s first year working with a school following a career building equipment for DeMarini Sports, who specialize in building baseball bats in Hillsboro. He is looking forward to his first opportunity to contribute to a school community. 

“[I am excited about] the high intensity of the kids…just being around the high energy that the kids are going to put around,” Garcia said.“I think that having children around, especially high schoolers, will make it that much more exciting. I am really looking forward to that.”

“I love to hike and do photography,” Garcia said. “I like to go up to the coast range on the way to the beach and just find any place up in the mountains to go find a great view or hiking trail” adding he would like to go to “one of the national parks that are nowhere near here.” 

Full transcript of the interview below

How long have you been working with schools?

Well this is the first school I have worked at. I have never worked at a school before, all my other companies have been manufacturing companies. 

What type of companies have you worked for?

The last place I worked at was DiMarini Sports and they built baseball bats and I built all the equipment for them. 

Is that local?

Yeah it is based in Hillsboro.

Are you originally from the Portland/Hillsboro area?

Yeah, born in Forest Grove actually. When I entered school, my family moved out to Hillsboro so I went to school out there.

What does working in maintenance entail?

Its a little different being in a school. For me it means maintaining all the faucets, all the doors, anything that breaks, lighting and stuff like that making sure all your lights are lit up especially at night in the parking lot when people are driving through. Plunging toilets too. 

Do you have a team?

Jack is my supervisor, my manager, director.

Whats something that excited you about Jesuit in particular?

Well for me its the high intensity of the kids, being around the high energy the kids are gonna put around, you know. In my last job, it wasnt that high intensity that high energy but i think having children around especially high schoolers will make it that much more exciting. I am really looking forward to that. 

Is that something you have wanted to do for a while?

I have never actually thought about it until I saw the job posting. I had never thought of working at a school like this. 

Whats something that the Jesuit community should know about you?

Well, I love to hike and do photography. I like to go up to the coast range out here on the way to the beach and just find any place up in the mountains up there to just go and find a really great view or good hiking trail. 

What kind of photography are you into?

I like nature landscapes, animals too if they can sit still long enough. Anywhere where I can find a good nature scene. 

One place you would want to go hike or take pictures at?

I guess one of the national parks that are nowhere near here. Like Yellowstone.

Best piece of advice you have ever received?

Admit when you are wrong, if you don’t think you are right, don’t pretend to know. If you need help, ask for help, theres always people around you to help.

Worst advice?

Wing it. Wing it and you’ll figure it out