MEMBER FOCUS
Members of The Year
Meet your CSEA Members of the Year
Jennie Curto, Richard Acosta express their emotions receiving prestigious award
Jennie Curto ‘ray of light’ during difficult times
If one were to sum up Jennie Curto with a phrase, it would be service oriented. The administrative assistant II in the maintenance, operations and transportation department for San Luis Obispo Chapter 444 lives and breathes service. Whether it is for her fellow classified members, students, parents or community members, particularly the underserved, she is passionate about helping others.
Among her many efforts, Curto has helped hungry and underprivileged families by participating in the South SLO County Womenade (SSLOCW) Nutrition Program. Additionally, in partnership with the SLO Food Bank and Nipomo Elementary, SSLOCW distributes food to 300 families on the second Tuesday of each month at the school’s campus. Beyond her job and community service, Curto also serves as secretary and site representative of her chapter.
“My ability to connect the dots of community support reflects that ability to transcend barriers once in place.”
- Jennie Curto
“It has been a very difficult and strange year with the pandemic and it's not easy to navigate through these times, but I always saw Jennie either leaning in to make a difference or being the ray of light in these situations through her service,” said Hugo Bastidos, director of operations for the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education and Curto’s direct supervisor.
So, it comes as no surprise that Curto was chosen as one of 10 Members of the Year who were honored at CSEA’s 95th Annual Conference in July. She was selected as a 2021 recipient.
Despite the profound impact she makes in the lives of others, Curto shared her “shock, disbelief and total emotion” after receiving the award.
“I'm still at a point of being able to describe it,” she said. “Anyone that knows me, knows I am one not to run out of words.”
Curto explained that winning the award holds her even more accountable to what she can do for her chapter, community and CSEA. But for those who know her, that won’t be any different than what she already does day in and day out.
Over the three years he has known Curto, Bastidos says he has witnessed plenty of scenarios in which Curto has positively impacted others’ lives.
For example, one day a woman stopped by their office for fingerprint services for a potential job. Curto struck up a conversation with her, asking about her family. While this was happening, Curto noticed the woman’s entire family was waiting in a car outside the office. She walked with the woman back to the car to greet her family at which point she noticed a few things, including the children prodding their mom that they were hungry. Recognizing that the family was in need, Curto arranged food for them that day.
“This mother was so thankful and she let Jennie know that things had been tough recently and that money was tight,” Bastidos recalls. “In the end, not only did she help this family with food supplies, but she helped a total of seven families altogether when it was all said and done. She took the opportunity to just listen and then care for a random customer. Talk about service to others.”
It is for reasons like these that Bastidos believes CSEA “couldn’t have chosen a more worthy recipient” for the award.
And for Curto, the award goes beyond just honoring her efforts.
“Recognition of our union and knowing that our local chapter has involvement at the level beyond our county is impactful,” she said. “For the first time ever, I had a board member take the time to call me and say what a wonderful job I am doing for everyone, and that I should be proud of my achievements. I had another board member run into me and congratulate me. Me! My ability to connect the dots of community support reflects that ability to transcend barriers once in place.”
Jennie Curto, administrative assistant II, San Luis Obispo Chapter 444
Richard Acosta, custodian, Rialto Chapter 203
Custodian by profession, mentor by calling: meet Richard Acosta
CSEA’s Member of the Year (MOY) award program recognizes extraordinary members who have blurred the lines between serving the needs of students and the community. For 2020 MOY winner Richard Acosta from Rialto Chapter 203, being a custodian is more than a job – it’s a chance to mentor.
Since being hired by the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) in 2003, Acosta is well known among his classified and certificated colleagues to go beyond the scope of his job description.
“He is committed not only to campus cleanliness but also being an asset to upholding a positive campus climate,” said Kyla Griffin, principal of Milor Continuation High School in RUSD, where Acosta works.
"I’m trying my best to leave a good footprint and that’s the way I was raised, to make the most out of whatever we have."
- Richard Acosta
Aside from his duties of disinfecting high-touch areas and maintaining facilities for his beloved students, Acosta is also widely known for spending time with students considered “high risk” by others.
As a member of RUSD's Positive Behavioral Supports and Intervention (PBIS) team, Acosta helps at-risk students deal with trauma through a concept called social-emotional learning, where they assess their feelings and thoughts in restorative circles alongside counselors.
Acosta also runs a boxing club where he's able to further connect with troubled teens as a father figure.
“I didn’t reach out to these kids to win any awards or kudos. That’s just the way I am,” Acosta admitted. “I’m trying my best to leave a good footprint and that’s the way I was raised, to make the most out of whatever we have.”
And so, Acosta came into work one Tuesday morning last July and was soon brought to tears on the third day of CSEA’s 95th Annual Conference where he was recognized as one of 10 Members of the Year.
After learning his contributions and efforts to his students was being lauded by his CSEA family, he made no qualms about his gratitude and appreciation for his union brothers and sisters.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing well and there’s so many other members that go that extra mile for the kids,” said Acosta. “They do things because they love the students and they don’t complain. They might stay a little late and do stuff out of their job description. I think everybody contributes.”
Acosta received an engraved CSEA Member of the Year plaque that is now proudly displayed at his workplace to recognize his commitment to his students and the contributions of classified staff to their school communities.
