FEATURED CONTENT
ACE Program
Appreciating Classified Employees Program
ACE program shines spotlight on classified employees
By David Ngô
A popular saying comes to mind when describing the impact of CSEA’s Appreciating Classified Employees (ACE) program: to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
An annual event held to recognize the hard work of classified employees, the ACE program invites school officials to “job shadow” classified employees for a day as part of Classified School Employee Week (CSEW).
School administrators perform jobs such as preparing meals, groundskeeping, instructional assistance, custodial work, and more to gain a better understanding of what it’s like to be a classified employee.
In addition to bridging understanding and building relationships, the ACE program is also a celebration of classified employees that culminates in the adoption of a district resolution to officially recognize CSEW.
“The opportunity to work alongside our classified team members created an opportunity to not only honor the important work of our classified staff but also to learn more about how our system operates ‘behind the scenes’ of the classroom,” said Ketti Davis, superintendent of Fresno’s Central Unified School District.
“I think the energy of all our staff that participated was proof of the benefit it brings to our community and is worth doing again! Thank you to our local CSEA leadership for bringing this activity to our district.”
Hear from some of this year’s participating chapters on their ACE experience:
Charles Gutierrez (left), vice principal of Liddell Elementary with Dominik Robles, grounds specialist and Chapter 2nd VP.
Photo courtesy of Central Unified 474
Central Unified Chapter 474
Dominik Robles, 2nd vice president of Central Unified Chapter 474, works as a grounds specialist at Norman Liddell Elementary in Fresno. He was shadowed by his vice principal, Charles Gutierrez, and says the experience was beneficial in bringing management and staff closer together.
“The ACE program to me was about establishing relationships between our supervisors and administrators with classified employees. It wasn’t just about seeing our daily routines, but truly understanding what we do and the importance of that,” Robles said. “I had the chance to get to know Charles on a more personal level. It was beautiful seeing everyone come together and participate in this event.”
Central Unified Chapter 474 also welcomed Superintendent Ketti Davis and Harman Dhillon, principal of Garza High School, to shadow food service workers. In both cases, they helped with preparing meals and gained insight into this crucial group of classified employees.
“As principal, I do have a birds-eye view of the school, but to experience the work that our cafeteria staff complete was truly very eye-opening,” Dhillon explained. “The amount of prep work and careful consideration of detail was something that I took out of this experience.”
Red Bluff Elementary Chapter 629
Red Bluff Elementary Chapter 629 had seven school officials, from the assistant superintendent to the director of student support services, shadowed classified staff by spending time in classrooms, offices, cafeterias, and noon supervision.
Chapter 629 President Annette Arnold says her chapter planned well in advance and received a lot of interest from members to participate.
“In the weeks of pre-planning for the event, our committee decided to get new chapter T-shirts for our members and all administrative staff,” said Arnold, who works as a CALPADS administrator. “Shadowing was set for each of our sites on certain days of the week. Each site had members that signed up to be shadowed. It was great!”
Throughout the experience, Arnold says administrative staff were happy and honored to have time with classified employees to experience firsthand the impact of classified employees. The chapter ended the week with a BBQ where all staff, teachers and administrators were invited along with their families. Arnold and her e-board then presented the district with a plaque to commemorate the program’s success.
“The ACE program is renowned for creating a moment to recognize the hard work that classified employees do,” Arnold said. “This happens in job shadowing and what can often lead to a deeper understanding of administrative staff, supervisory staff, and certificated staff.”
(L-R): Jeff Johnson, maintenance ground worker; Megan Hardy, crosswalk supervision; Charlie Lafferty, Director of Maintenance.
(L-R): Bidwell Elementary team: Michelle Reineman and Sharon Dancel, school secretaries; Charlotte Noble, health attendance assistant; Donna Henderson, vice principal; and Wendy Wilson, principal.
Photos courtesy of Red Bluff Elementary 629
Photo courtesy of Anahi Chang
Chapter President Anahi Chang at the RUSD Board Meeting (5/18/23), presenting the Riverside Unified School District with the ACE plaque and acknowledging them for the support in working side-by-side with classified workers.
Photo courtesy of Riverside Unified School District
(L-R): Renee Hill, superintendent, shadowed Marci Frias, head custodian.
Riverside Chapter 506
“We successfully invited Riverside school board members, cabinet executives, the chief of staff, and the director of classified personnel to job shadow 14 classified workers," said Anahi Chang, who works as a kitchen operator and serves as Riverside Chapter 506 president.
“Together, we selected from paraeducators, campus supervisors, aquatics, carpentry, irrigation workers, translators, health assistants, library media, kitchen operators, nutrition specialists, registrars, custodians, assessment technicians, and accounting assistants to participate.”
Chang says connecting school officials to classified employees during the program has helped create an improved understanding of the day-to-day lives of her members.
The chapter submitted a resolution to officially recognize CSEW, and a plaque was presented during a May 18 district board meeting, in addition to hosting a picnic, where over 25 members enjoyed food, drinks and prizes with school officials.
“We would like to thank CSEA for selecting Riverside and allowing us to acknowledge all classified employees,” Chang said. “To be chosen out of 1,600 members to be joined to work side-by-side with higher-ups was humbling and has brought the morale up in our chapter immensely.”
San Marcos Unified Chapter 413
San Marcos Unified Chapter 413 held their ACE events from May 15-17, joined by school officials who shadowed members working in transportation, library, administrative functions, groundskeeping, and adult transition programs.
During shadowing events, administrators worked side-by-side with classified employees by waking up early to conduct school bus inspections, preparing burrito bowls for students, repairing Chromebooks, overseeing a bookfair, and even answering phones at the front desk.
“Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Tiffany Campbell worked at the front desk answering phones that never stopped ringing and greeting visitors as they came in,” said Yvonne Brett, chapter president.
“Then she spent time with Office Manager Debra Weaver to see what her day was like. Tiffany said that the requests from the staff were a constant stream, and she was amazed at the amount of knowledge Debra had.”
Brett says having school officials engage in classified tasks was enjoyable for everyone involved. The chapter then invited all officials to their ACE celebration, where they enjoyed food and heard testimonials from administrators and classified staff.
“Our chapter invited them as special guests to our appreciation event. Tacos were served and one of our CNS workers created a fabulous dessert display. We also had a slideshow running on a continuous loop while our members enjoyed their meal.”
(L-R): Yvonne Brett, chapter president; Andy Johnsen, superintendent; Ron Tackett, chapter 1st vice president
Photos courtesy of San Marcos 413
(L-R): Sulphur Springs 298 chapter officers Kristi Simpronio, vice president (BIA, Sulphur Springs Community School); Mona Walker, secretary (computer lab technician, Valley View Community School); Lupe Moran, treasurer (bus driver); and Felicia McLaughlin, president (secretary, maintenance and operations).
Dr. Jay Greenlinger, assistant superintendent of personnel and pupil services at Canyon Springs Community School with Hector Herrera, noon supervisor and IA.
Courtesy of Sulphur Springs 298
Sulphur Springs Chapter 298
Kristi Simpronio, vice president of Sulphur Springs Chapter 298, says her chapter benefited from the program with school administrators and trustees eager to work with classified staff.
“We set up 2-hour time slots and had 16 teams total,” Simpronio said. “Administrators spent time with noon supervisors, classroom and speech instructional aides, behavioral instructional assistants, a SLPA, bus driver, custodian and librarian technician.”
Simpronio shared that the experience was meaningful and fun. The chapter provided all staff who participated, including school officials, with an official CSEW 2023 shirt and a gold-and-navy lanyard.
From the district superintendent and school principals to trustees and even staff from the local assemblyman’s office, the chapter's experience shows how school officials and local leaders emerge from the program with a greater level of appreciation for classified employees.
“After four days of shadowing, we held a dinner at one of the school sites to celebrate all our members. We had CSEA swag for all to take and handed out raffle tickets to all attendees,” Simpronio said.
“Overall, it was a great experience for everyone. Our staff got to show how hard they work behind the scenes at their jobs and our leadership got a ‘peek’ of what it means to be an essential worker.”
Tustin Chapter 450
Tustin Chapter 450 welcomed district administrators for a day of job shadowing to showcase the essential work their members perform every day. Those administrators shared their experiences:
Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Maggie Villegas spent time in the classroom working with students.
“Having the opportunity to connect with Mina and hear about the tremendous work she does as a paraeducator at Columbus Tustin Middle School was so inspiring. Also having the chance to hear about her 20+ years of experience throughout the district was the highlight of my day. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to experience a little part of her day.”
Rafael Plascencia, Director of Personnel, got his hands dirty for his day as a classified employee.
“It was a wonderful experience spending time with James, Maintenance and Operations, Irrigation Specialist. While accompanying James, he was diligently working on irrigation lines at the front of Foothill High School. James takes pride in his work and is keenly aware of how his contributions in TUSD help create better experiences for students and staff.”
Maurita De La Torre, Chief Personnel Officer, helped prepare meals in the cafeteria.
“I am a big supporter of TUSD’s Classified Employees. I take immense pride in seeing the great contributions they make to our school community. Spending time with Cristina and working alongside her in the kitchen was a wonderful opportunity to see her in action. We are fortunate to have employees like Cristina who love being a part of the TUSD family.”
Maurita De La Torre, chief personnel officer, worked in the kitchen alongside Cristina Sadighi, cook.
Photos Courtesy of Tustin Unified School District
Rafael Plascencia, director of personnel, worked with James Johnson, irrigation specialist, and Francisco Morales, groundsperson.
(L-R): Deneen Gus, Monterey Office of Education Superintendent; and Pedro Gonzalez, Maintenance.
Jonathan Hinojosa (left), Campus Health and safety supervisor, with Mike Kimball from Kimball and Associates.
Photos courtesy of Santa Rita 503
Santa Rita Chapter 503
Santa Rita Chapter 503 worked with Santa Rita Union School District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Becky Moore to invite district and Monterey County Office of Education administrators, SRUSD Board Members, Salinas City Council members and community partner members to shadow 10 Classified employees.
They shadowed custodians, bus drivers, instructional aides, maintenance, health aides, community liaisons, library media techs, campus safety supervisors, special education instructional aides, and kitchen leads.
Following a morning of observing and assisting classified employees in their roles, the event ended with a lunch gathering where both sides shared their experiences. At the lunch, Santa Rita Chapter 503 President Juana Casillas presented a plaque to SRUSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Becky Moore for the strong partnership between classified employees and the school district.
Other chapters that were selected for the 2023 ACE Program but were not reached for this article include Temple City Chapter 105 and Santa Monica Chapter 36.
ACE chapters are selected exclusively by the Association President and provided with key guidelines such as how to create an ACE team, publicize the program, and more.
While only one chapter is chosen per Area for the ACE program, any chapter can host a job shadow day or Classified School Employee Week events. These events require cooperation and planning by chapter leadership and district administration, both of which are involved during every step of the program. For more information on the ACE program, visit www.csea.com/ace
