Apache Junction school district announces new additions to leadership team

Three individuals have been added to Apache Junction Unified School District’s leadership team — Gina Salazar, director of business services; Jeff Cox, director of career & technical education; and Benjamin Gwin, assistant principal at Apache Junction High School-athletics.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gina Salazar, Jeff Cox and Benjamin Gwin to the AJUSD team,” Dr. Robert Pappalardo, superintendent of AJUSD, said in a release. “Their diverse backgrounds, leadership skills and dedication to student success make them valuable additions to our district. We look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students, staff, and community.”

With these new hires, AJUSD reaffirms its commitment to providing quality education and support services to the Apache Junction community, the release states.

“These talented professionals bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to education to their respective roles within the district,” it states.

Gina Salazar

Salazar, an Arizona native and former U.S. Marine Corps member, joins AJUSD as the director of business services. With a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Argosy University, Salazar brings more than 17 years of experience from Casa Grande Union High School District, where she worked in various capacities, including business manager and most recently as director of business services.

Jeff Cox

Cox, a product of Apache Junction’s K-12 education system, returns to his roots as the director of career & technical education after a 26-year career in education. Cox, who has multiple degrees from Northern Arizona University, has worked in roles ranging from teacher to assistant principal/athletic director. For the past seven years, he has excelled as a district-level director of athletics and community education.

Benjamin Gwin

Gwin, originally from Tucson, assumes the role of assistant principal - athletics at AJUSD. Gwin’s educational journey includes earning two master’s degrees and extensive experience in various educational capacities, including teaching, coaching and athletic administration. His background includes roles such as athletic director, instruction coach and academic behavior specialist.

For information about AJUSD, visit ajusd.org .