FEATURED CONTENT
ACE Program
ACE program shines spotlight on classified employees Participating chapters share their experiences
by Shannon Carr
From helping students arrive safely at school, to providing them with nutritious meals, keeping their classrooms clean and assisting with their learning, the wide range of essential services classified employees provide is critical to the success of the more than 6 million students across California every day. But their hard work and dedication often go unnoticed because they aren’t front and center in the classroom. The 2022 Appreciating Classified Employees (ACE) program was held in May during Classified School Employee Week as a joint effort between CSEA chapters and their school districts to celebrate the importance of classified employees’ daily responsibilities by shining a light on their jobs. ACE chapters were selected by the Association President to participate in the program, where district and school administrators, school board members, parent teacher association members, city council members and more are invited to “job shadow” classified school employees. Any chapter is welcome to hold their own ACE events during CSEW week, whether they are officially selected or not. Here is a look at some activities of the ACE chapters and others.
Principal Jessica Taliafero and College/Career Clerk Roz Griffin (Roslyn)
Konocti Chapter 12
John Huffman, chapter president for Konocti Chapter 12, believes the ACE program was a chance to showcase the amazing skills and hard work of his chapter’s classified employees. Christa Vandagriff, college and career center clerk, decided to participate because she is in a new position but has been with the district for 17 years. She was shadowed by Tarin Benson, director of Student Services, and they talked and worked on an upcoming career day. Vandagriff hopes Benson learned that she is a “dedicated and hardworking person that always puts kids and my job first,” she said. “I wanted to show them how fast I've picked up my new job title.”
West Covina Chapter 91
West Covina Unified School District and West Covina Chapter 91 were “elated to participate in our second annual ACE program,” said Chapter President Janet Anderson. Eighteen administrators and dignitaries throughout the district signed up to shadow 18 CSEA members. During the event, members showed their special guests all the hard work and dedication that goes into their jobs. Afterward, they gathered for a lunch provided by the district where classified and administrators shared their positive stories and outcomes of the day. “Thank you again for this wonderful program as it has truly brought the classified staff and district closer together,” Anderson said.
Loretta Macias, satellite operator I, and Claudia Sanchez, director of Purchasing.
Instructional Paraeducator Savanna Cortez, Campus Supervisor Paula "Paty” Ramirez and Board Member Eileen Robinson
Chico Chapter 110
During the ACE program for Chico Chapter 110, there were more classified employees who signed up to be shadowed by district administrators than what the day allowed. Throughout the event, district leaders learned some of the everyday details and effects of classified employees’ jobs that impact staff and students every day. This included when the air conditioning turned off on a bus during the hot day. Additionally, the superintendent and board members were able to see how busy a junior high cafeteria can become and the nutritious meals that are offered. They also witnessed firsthand the diversity of the students and the programs that serve them. “This ACE event in Chico illustrated the variety of ways that classified staff work with others to make a difference as they bring it every day!” said Chapter President Lori Sullivan. “They are essential.”
Palmdale Chapter 296
Chapter President Helena Perkins said Palmdale’s goal for the ACE program was for management to be boots on the ground alongside classified employees. Solange Henriquez, Director of Classified Personnel, worked in the cafeteria alongside Julia Zepeda, child nutrition assistant II. She quickly learned that the job is fast paced and requires accuracy. “Classified employees have the knowledge, skills and ability to carry out a broad range of functions in the Palmdale School District,” Henriquez said. “We could not run the schools without them!” Additionally, the chapter gave away gift cards to all members present at the chapter meeting, and held a celebration with food and cake.
Director of Classified Personnel Solange Henriquez and Child Nutrition Manager (classified employee) Tami Randolph (Tamara)
Karen Silberman, director of Student Support Services and Special Education, shadows health clerk Jackie Frausto.
Charles T Kranz Chapter 430
In Charles T Kranz Chapter 430, six classified employees participated alongside three board members, five principals, four directors and the assistant superintendent of personnel. Health clerk Jacqueline Frausto was shadowed by board members Christian Diaz and Veronica Sifuentes; Karen Silberman, director of student support services and special education; George Schonborn, director of pupil personnel services; and Angelica Juarez, secretary for maintenance. “Our health clerks wear many hats and truly support the wellbeing of our students and staff,” Diaz said. “I was very appreciative to be able to spend time with Jackie and how great she is at what she does.”
Mountain View/Los Altos Chapter 527
Julie Corzine, chapter president of Mountain View/Los Altos Chapter 527, has always hoped her chapter would be able to participate in the ACE program. This year, they had the Board of Trustees, superintendents and principals shadow classified employees. “I feel like this was an important year to do this because we are going into the reclassification process, which has not happened for most classified positions in over 20 years,” Corzine said. “We got such great feedback from everyone involved and I hope they were able to get a greater picture of what our classified staff brings every day!”
Debbie Torok, vice president of the Board of Trustees, works with Evening Custodian Adrianna Bonilla at Los Altos High School.
Richard Barrera, San Diego Unified School Board Trustee, teamed up with paraeducator Shamontae Brown, pictured with a student.
San Diego Paraeducators Chapter 759
San Diego Paraeducators Chapter 759 said their goal in participating was for administrators to see how job descriptions don’t paint the whole picture. “Whatever students need along with their academics we are providing: hugs, a listening ear, teaching them restorative practices, empathy, social awareness, and accountability,” said Chapter President Brenda Mitchell. Richard Barrera, a San Diego Unified School Board trustee, teamed up with paraeducator Shamontae Brown. She was performing coffee cart rounds with students, designed to teach skills like money handling and taking orders. “I was incredibly impressed with Shamontae’s relationships and love for the students,” he said.
Member support more important than ever before
by Shannon Carr
Our way of life, now more than ever, has taught us to expect the unexpected. In addition to living through the uncertainty of a pandemic that started last year, many members have fallen on other hard times. Through both the good and the bad times, CSEA’s union brothers and sisters continue to stand strong and stand together. CSEA was founded on the belief of members helping members and this continues to be one of our guiding principles today.
This way of thinking was the inspiration of then-Association President Dorothy Bjork, who, in the mid-1980s, led our union’s first disaster relief effort that saw members from across the state donate their time, supplies and money to help fellow school employees in need. This effort eventually grew into the creation of the Assistance Fund that bears her name.
“Every day, a CSEA member wakes up and they and their family are hungry. Somewhere, there is a family on the verge of eviction.”
Last year alone, nearly $64,000 was distributed to 198 members. This assistance program runs solely on donations, not from dues or fees.
As chair of the Humanitarian Committee that distributes these funds, Past President Allan Clark shared a statement at a recent Board Meeting summarizing what it is like to receive applications from those who are struggling:
