La Colina Junior High remembered the legacy of its former principal, David L. Ortiz, at the school’s annual award ceremony Wednesday.
David Ortiz died on March 31 at the age of 71 and the school held a remembrance ceremony in his honor before giving awards to graduating eighth graders.
La Colina’s principal for 22 years before retiring in 2019, David Ortiz was known as the heart of the school’s campus, where he valued and cherished his students, staff, and employees.
“David Ortiz loved this campus to its very core,” Jennifer Foster, La Colina’s principal, said to the crowd.
David Ortiz displayed the true meaning of being a Santa Barbara native. He attended McKinley Elementary School, La Cumbre Junior High, and graduated from Santa Barbara High School, class of 1972.
He was a Santa Barbara City College and San Diego State graduate, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. He later went to UC Santa Barbara and got his master’s degree and two administrative credentials.
David Ortiz was surrounded by education his whole life. His parents put early emphasis on learning and he and his siblings would go on to choose education as a career path. His sister, Barbra Ortiz, explained that education is a part of who they are.
“It was just something that [our parents] felt was really important,” Barbra Ortiz told the News-Press. “To be educated and to be community-minded, and David carried that further.”
His family was in attendance for the ceremony, where Foster announced that the school’s Palm Stage would be dedicated and renamed to the David L. Ortiz Palm Stage — a venue where he spent a lot of his time celebrating eighth graders and honoring school milestones.
“The David L. Ortiz Palm Stage will continue to be the center of our campus and a daily reminder of David’s legacy, commitment, and love for La Colina,” Foster said.
On the stage, a new plaque memorializing David Ortiz can be seen bearing the words he used to share with others: Dream it, believe it, achieve it.
La Colina announced that the school would be awarding the first-ever David L. Ortiz Leadership Award to a student. The award was given to eighth grader Norah Leonardi.
“When we first talked about honoring David and honorees for this award, it was instantly clear that Norah was exactly the right student for this special award,” Foster said. “Norah applies all the characteristics that David Ortiz lived by and strived for students to uphold.”
Foster emphasized that David Ortiz wasn’t just the average principal and that he went above and beyond for students.
Leslie Ortiz, David Ortiz’s wife, remembered that his retirement was a difficult decision for him.
“It was hard for him to retire because he loved what he did,” Leslie Ortiz told the News-Press.
David Ortiz was truly there for his students. Whether it was talking to students at lunch, making sure the last student made it home after school, going to students’ sports games, or cleaning up the school grounds on weekends, he was deeply dedicated to his role as an educator.
When it comes to his legacy at La Colina, his family and former colleagues hope he’s remembered as a champion for kids.
“He always fought for the underdog,” Carole Nevarez, La Colina’s assistant principal, said to the News-Press. “The ones that weren’t celebrated.”
People from out of town, even out of California, came to honor David Ortiz.
“I think he would’ve been proud . . . loved it,” Leslie Ortiz said about the ceremony.
