At Granite Hills High School, one staff member who truly stands out is Ms. Alexis Fuston.
She works as a CCIS, which is a Comprehensive Support and Intervention Specialist. You can often see her around campus checking in on students. She is someone students can turn to when they need guidance or encouragement.
Fuston grew up in Porterville and is a Granite Hills alumnus. After high school, she attended Porterville College and Fresno State, where she was a double major in Kinesiology and Early Childhood Education. She then transferred to CSU Bakersfield, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Child Adolescent, and Family Studies. She is now working toward her Master’s in Behavior Analysis at National University and plans to finish in 2026.
Before returning to Granite Hills, she worked at a school in the Mojave area. The student population there was mostly African American, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic. There were only a few African American staff members, including her. This helped students feel more connected and created a strong sense of belonging. That experience shaped the way she supports students today with understanding and compassion.
At Granite Hills, her favorite part of the job is seeing student growth. Many of the students she works with are often misunderstood, and she takes the time to get to know them. One of her most memorable moments is watching a student who was once closed off begin to open up and make progress. To her, time is valuable, and growth is something to be proud of.
To build trust, she focuses on understanding that every student is different. Some students are loud while others are quiet. When students are emotional, she listens and reminds them that their feelings are valid. A common piece of advice given to students is to focus on themselves because every choice they make matters.
Outside of school, she enjoys going to the gym, traveling, hiking, and doing calm hobbies like knitting, sewing, and reading about self-improvement. Her biggest inspiration in life is her daughter, who motivates her to be a better person.
In the futur,e Ms. Fuston hopes to own her own practice to support students who need extra help. She also has a five-year plan of having a ranch and working from home while still being able to travel for work.
One quote that represents her work is “It’s okay to cry, we were given the ability to cry to release our emotions when we are overwhelmed.” This reflects the safe space she creates for students on campus.
Ms. Fuston continues to make a positive impact at Granite Hills. She stands out because she listens, she cares, and she works every day to make students feel supported and understood.
