HOLLY JEFFERSON, principal at Irvine Intermediate School by school board (Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune

When top teachers and others in the Garden Grove Unified School District are honored as “Employees of the Month,” usually the accolades include stories of how educators shaped lives.

On Tuesday night, one of those cited for exemplary service actually was involved in saving a life.

At the meeting of the school district’s board of education, two principals were celebrated: Chris Ash of Eisenhower Elementary School and Holly Jefferson of Irvine Intermediate School.

Ash started with the GGUSD in 1996 and served as a teacher, then several posts in the district office, and then to Eisenhower Elementary as a principal, where he currently serves.

He was feted before the board and a capacity crowd in the board meeting room for his emphasis on student success and elevating the school’s use of technology.

Jefferson, who also joined the district in 1996, served as a teacher at Jordan and Lake intermediate schools, and then at Rancho Alamitos High School. She also served as head basketball coach at La Quinta and Rancho, then as assistant principal at Santiago and then Garden Grove high schools.

She’s been principal at Irvine since 2022, where she’s recognized as fostering “ an exceptionally positive culture and climate.”

The most dramatic moment came when Drew Dinh, a counselor at Irvine, complained of some chest pains. Jefferson checked on him and quickly made the decision to rush him to the hospital with what proved to be cardiac problems.

At the hospital, the surgeon told them – Jefferson was by his side – that if there had been a delay of 10 minutes, he would have died.

CHRIS ASH, principal at Eisenhower Elementary School (Tribune photo).