Information regarding the Classified School Employees of the Year Awardees for 2013.
Cheryl Gostisha
Child Nutrition Category
Food Service Director, 16 years in current position
Horicon Elementary School, Annapolis
Horicon Elementary School District, Sonoma County
Cheryl Gostisha is a one-person food service program. The position of Food Service Director in a small school district is huge and varied. She plans all the meals, orders, and shops. She cooks for 60 students, preparing breakfast and lunch daily. She is server, dishwasher, and cafeteria custodian. This year, Cheryl has redesigned her menus and recipes, meeting the new healthy criteria and earning the extra $.06 per meal for her program. She has taken the changes seriously, creating healthy choices of fresh fruit, vegetables, and increased wheat flour. Cheryl also composts and has started a worm farm that the students use for their garden projects. Cheryl is a wonderful asset to the school not only as a great cook but as a genuinely kind and caring person.
Javier Marquez
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category
Custodian I, 7 years in current position
Washington Elementary School, Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Unified School District, Los Angeles County
Javier Marquez's job title of custodian doesn't even come close to describing the impact he has on a typical day. He's more like a custodian/counselor/security officer/green team coordinator—the list is endless. Everywhere you look, there are signs of the care and commitment Javier has for his job. He completes his custodial assignments with ease and uses a variety of methods, materials, tools, and equipment to complete each of his daily tasks. Custodians often get the worst of the worst jobs, but Javier never complains and does everything with grace and the utmost of care. And we are proud of the commitment Javier has to the most important people in our schools, the children. There is no doubt that Javier is one of our brightest stars.
Amber Dimas
Office and Technical Category
School Site Secretary II, 8 years in current position
El Portal Middle School, Escalon
Escalon Unified School District, San Joaquin County
Amber Dimas' work performance is outstanding. The volume of paperwork and electronic files that pass through her office is staggering. Somehow, she completes all tasks and keeps all this information organized in a manner that is always readily available. Amber cares deeply for both the staff and the students of El Portal. She demonstrates this daily through her interactions with each of these groups. However, Amber makes the needs of the students her number-one priority. She plays so many roles to so many different students—a friend to some, a mother to others. Her work ethic and skill make her a tremendous asset to school administration. However, her love of kids and yearning for their success makes her extremely special.
Julie Roe Smith
Para-Educator and Instructional Assistance Category
Instructional Assistant, 7 years in current position
Orange Grove High School, Corona
Corona-Norco Unified School District, Riverside County
Julie Roe Smith is an instructional aide for at-risk special education students at the continuation high school. Her students look to Julie as part mentor, part teacher, part cheerleader, part cop, and part mom. She is tireless. Her job goes far, far beyond the traditional description of an instructional aide. She calls parents on a daily basis and develops strong and productive relationships with them. There is no task she will not volunteer to take on, her work is exact and excellent and her energy and passion are infectious. Julie leads by example. She challenges her students to rise to her level by speaking, dressing, and acting professionally. She understands that the difficulties they face can be debilitating, but through her example, they learn perseverance; they learn that they are valuable human beings who need to keep trying.
Celia Raygoza
Support Services and Security Category
Recruiter and Student Advocate for the District's Migrant Education Program, 40 years in current position
Union City
New Haven Unified School District, Alameda County
Celia Raygoza's dedication and commitment to education is inspiring. She takes the time to not only encourage students to excel academically, but she also inspires parents to take a proactive approach in their children's academic lives. Celia locates and recruits qualifying migrant families for the district and program. She monitors the academic, health, and social progress of the approximately 100 students assigned to her and co-runs an after-school tutoring program for migrant students. Both students and their parents look to Celia as the "matriarch" of the program. She is tough with them about doing their best work in school, attending regularly, and behaving. If a child is not being successful, she is in touch with the parent regarding their role in resolving the problem. And she's also inspired parents to inspire their own children by making a commitment to their own education.
Sandra Dyson
Transportation Category
Bus Driver, 38 years in current position
Boron
Muroc Joint Unified School District, Kern County
Sandra Dyson has demonstrated superior job performance every year. She takes her job very seriously and, without a doubt, makes every child feel important and loved by the way she attends to their needs and concerns. Sandra is a consummate professional. She is dependable, kind, helpful, and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job accomplished. Sandra does an amazing job of organizing her time to meet the many demands her responsibilities. When students are on the bus, she provides a safe and fun environment. She knows the name of each student as they enter the bus, and they absolutely adore her. Sandra lives what she expects from students. Students are respectful toward her because they appreciate her and all that she does for them. Her commitment to students is beyond reproach.