Janine Stark began her distinguished career in education at Cupertino High School in the fall of 1960.  At that time each class had a male counselor that took care of the needs of boys and a female counselor who advised the needs of girls. Janine was assigned to the Class of 1964. How very fortunate these girls were for their entire four years at Cupertino High School. In 2004 she was a guest of honor at this class’s 40th Reunion.

Janine went on to become the Dean of Girls at Cupertino and while in this position also was the advisor to the Atruettes,  a girls service club. It was unusual for a school administrator to be so actively involved with students but Janine wasn’t your usual administrator. Mrs. Stark then went on to an outstanding career in administration which included being Principal of Monte Vista for many years.

At the end of  her  career in education she was made the interim Superintendent of the Fremont Union High School  District at a very critical juncture in the history of CHS. (Saving CHS).  She came to speak at a CHS faculty meeting at a time when their was no
love lost between Cupertino teachers and District officials. They always seemed to be talking down to us when they came to faculty meetings. We were wrong and they always knew how to fix things best.

Their were many teachers in the audience that day who remembered Janine in her days at CHS as she was  introduced. Was this sweet lady now just another enemy from the District  Office? Her sly smile told us differently and she brought down the house with a roaring gush of relieved laughter with her first words. “I’m from the District Office and I’m here to help”.

She did in fact give CHS support at this time when we so sorely needed it as the interim FUHSD Superintendent in 1985. She also returned in 1998 and 2008 to help celebrate CHS’s  40th and 50th Birthdays. Shortly before her death she had a lovely luncheon for ex-CHS teachers at her home. Her love for Cupertino never died. We who knew and loved Janine will always treasure our memories of her.