Background

By Vernon J. "Vern" Gebhardt

After spending 37 years in the Manteca Unified School District as a teacher/coach/athletic director, I believe I have the qualifications to be on the board.

It has been a real pleasure working with the Manteca youth for the past 38 years. After graduating from the University of the Pacific in 1968, I began my career at East Union High School. At East Union I taught, coached, and served as the Department Chair of Physical Education until 1994. I was then hired as the first Athletic Director for Sierra High School and continued in that position until retiring in 2005. During my career I was fortunate to have been chosen as the University of the Pacific Student Teacher of the Year in 1968, the Modesto Bee Football Coach of the Year in 1974,the Manteca Unified School District Teacher of the Year in 1986, and the Sac-Joaquin Section Athletic Director of the Year in 1994. I owe this success to the outstanding teachers, coaches, and students I worked with during these cumulative years.