By Yvette Lin
Staff Writer
Lujan received a scholarship to play football at Fresno State where he also earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science. He later went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University.
Twinkling stars filled the sky above Fil Lujan as he trekked with his students through the Mojave Desert. The whistling of the gentle breeze was coupled with the crunching of sand beneath their shoes, as dark mountains of sand rose up in waves in the landscape before them. Long hikes through the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert allowed Lujan’s students at Canyon Oaks High School the opportunity to witness unique sights and environments. The annual Veteran’s Day field trip to the desert was one of the many ways Lujan incorporated his hobbies and interests into his work.
“The students are used to sounds that they can’t hear anymore. There’s no city sound, no helicopter sounds, no traffic, there’s nothing,” Lujan said. “When you’ve hiked up to the top of the dune that’s hundreds of feet tall, there’s no life. There’s nothing except your friends around you, and you sit there and it’s soothing. It’s soul cleansing.”
Lujan got his first taste of teaching in high school by tutoring his classmates. Now starting his 30th year in education as the new Principal of TCHS, Lujan worked with and maintained strong relationships with his students of all age groups.
“For preschool-aged kids, I was like this big teddy bear kind of a guy, and the kids would gravitate toward me because they felt very safe around me,” Lujan said. In middle school, I would use humor to teach lessons. We would banter back and forth, there’d be lots of sarcasm, and it would be funny. In high school, it was really about just treating people like you’d want to be treated and being very respectful of people’s ideas, goals and desires. It’s the ability to recognize what people need and address it. As opposed to them having to adapt to me, I’ve always adapted to my students and made sure that their needs are being met.”
Before finding his love for football and teaching, Lujan was a part of the San Gabriel Valley Junior Rifle Team. He also participated in local show productions such as “The Music Man” and eventually joined Aztec Singers, his high school’s show choir. In addition to health sciences and P.E., Lujan also taught Microsoft applications and Digital Photography at the Monrovia Community Adult School.
Lujan believes that having confidence and assurance in oneself will help students bring success in life and hopes that he can assist students in achieving their goals.
“I couldn’t be happier. I get to serve a great school, learn about its culture and find out what makes it so great from the people that work and go to school here,” Lujan said. “I’m fortunate to be a part of TCHS, and I’ll do my best to make sure that your experience at this school is as good as it can be.”
“I couldn’t be happier. I get to serve a great school, learn about its culture and find out what makes it so great from the people that work and go to school here,” Lujan said. “I’m fortunate to be a part of TCHS, and I’ll do my best to make sure that your experience at this school is as good as it can be.”