MEMBER FOCUS
ACE program
ACE program creates unity in trying times
by Shannon Carr
Monika Schortner is acutely aware of how the world has shifted for classified employees in such a short timeframe. “It has been a pivotal time of change: a time of transition, a time of reflection, a time of uncertainty, a time to muster our individual and collective strengths and resources to navigate the closure of our campuses during the global pandemic,” said Schortner, a Communications Officer and graphic arts specialist with Yosemite CCD Chapter 420. Schortner believes the Appreciating Classified Employees (ACE) Program allowed the Chapter 420 Executive Board to recognize achievements in the workplace by celebrating their collective contributions together.
Yosemite Community College District Chapter 420 president Roberto Reyes and treasurer Lisa Schut pose for a photo during Classified School Employee Week, when the ACE Program took place.
In years past, administrators, board members, parent teacher association members, city council members and more were invited to sign up to “job shadow” classified school employees during the program, held the third full week of May during Classified School Employee Week. This year’s activities were different for some participating chapters due to social limitations created by the COVID-19 pandemic. As one of 10 chapters chosen to participate in the annual program, Schortner’s chapter created celebratory graphic design ads for members and showed appreciation by sending out buttons, commemorative facemasks, and thank you cards to their 400-plus members, rather than canceling the program.“When we choose to offer supportive thoughts, words, and offer gifts of appreciation, we demonstrate that each of us is significant and has an important role in the workplace,” she said. However, for other chapters, like West Covina Chapter 91, the program operated as usual.
Senior Executive Assistant Monica Kelley job shadows Muriel Durden, bus driver with West Covina Chapter 91, during this year's ACE program.
"When we choose to offer supportive thoughts, words, and offer gifts of appreciation – we demonstrate that each of us is significant and has an important role in the workplace."
Chapter President and administrative secretary I Janet Anderson said there were 15 administrators, including board members, directors and even the superintendent, who shadowed 17 classified staff for two to four hours each. They rolled up their sleeves to scrub toilets, clean bathrooms, raise flags, deliver meals to sites and even dispatch buses. One of the directors was literally in the trenches fixing a broken sprinkler. Just another day at the office for classified staff. In the end, Anderson believes this year’s ACE event helped participating district personnel truly get an understanding of the work classified employees do. Superintendent Charles Hinman is proof positive of that. “The ACE Program provides an outstanding example of how it takes ALL employees working in sync to support the children, staff, schools and district,” he said. “For me personally, it was a reminder of how so many unsung heroes go about their workday tirelessly completing the task at hand. I had the pleasure of joining Greg Rodriguez from Nutrition Services in his delivery routes from the district office to the school sites. This after he had already been on the job for three hours (starting at 5 a.m.), loading the truck. All of the orders and deliveries were timely and done with a smile. As for me, I left the ACE job shadow with a new appreciation for the work of our classified staff and a little bit sore.”
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Denise Knutsen job shadows Julie Shigo, instructional assistant with West Covina Chapter 91.
"...I think having the few chapters targeted by CSEA helps show the districts and communities that CSEA is here to support our members, not just when there are issues between CSEA and the district."
Anderson agrees that the ACE program is a great way to build stronger relationships, giving district personnel and school board members perspective on what classified employees do. “I think it made them realize because we've never stopped working throughout this pandemic, how important the classified staff truly are,” she said. “Because we are what makes the school district go round.” Gregory Frotton, Chapter Communications Officer with Charter Oak 309, Regional Communications Officer for Region 2 and Communications Committee representative for Area G, believes the “program is important because it helps to highlight who classified employees are. When you say you work for a school district, the response is usually, 'Cool, what grade do you teach?’ I think this program helps show the importance of our members in the lives of our students.” Chapters have always been encouraged to hold these events independently, especially if members felt the relationship with the district/community would be helped by this program. Even if West Covina isn’t selected for ACE next year, Anderson said the chapter plans to expand it and participate each year on their own, which any chapter is welcome to do. “I was excited to see that this past year, basically ACE was very visibly open to all chapters to hold on their own,” Frotton said. “I would like to see that part continue, but I think having the few chapters targeted by CSEA helps show the districts and communities that CSEA is here to support our members, not just when there are issues between CSEA and the district.”
