April 30, 2008
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces Selection
of California's Classified School Employees of the Year
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today named six outstanding school employees as California's 2008 Classified School Employees of the Year, the inaugural year of the recognition program.
"California's 285,501 classified school employees perform important functions that are critical to our schools' and students' success. These employees are truly essential. We cannot operate our schools without them," said O'Connell.
"The Classified School Employees of the Year award was established to acknowledge and honor the significant contributions made by these talented and dedicated school staff members," he said. "I'm pleased that our state's classified school employees are receiving the recognition they so greatly deserve"
The 2008 Classified School Employees of the Year are, by order of classified staff category:
Child Nutrition: Anna Julian, Food Service Lead Cook, Stacey Nutrition Center, Huntington Beach, Westminster School District, Orange County.
Maintenance and Operations: Cheryl Spurgin, Lead Custodian, Wildwood Elementary School, Yucaipa, Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District, San Bernardino County.
Transportation: Edward (Eddie) Cooper, Vehicle Maintenance Coordinator, Fullerton School District, Fullerton, Orange County.
Paraeducator: Maria (Rosa) Thompson, Resident Care Attendant—English as a Second Language program, Barnard-White Middle School, Union City, New Haven Unified School District, Alameda County.
Office and Technical Services: Laura (Lori) L. Klingensmith, Administrative Assistant, Andrew Jackson Elementary School, Indio, Desert Sands Unified School District, Riverside County.
Support Services and Security: Joanne E. Gaylor, Student Services Assistant, Bernard L. Hughes Elementary School, Modesto, Empire Union School District, Stanislaus County.
O'Connell personally notified and congratulated the winners on Wednesday with early-morning phone calls.
Eighty-one applicants competed from 25 counties, including: Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Lake, Marin, Merced, Modoc, Napa, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare and Yolo.
Each of the winners underwent a local and state review process. At the state level, applications were reviewed by a team of job category experts, including at least one member representing local educational agency administration, one member representing employee job-alike groups, and one member provided by the California Department of Education who reviewed the candidates on the basis of at least five years of service in their nomination category.
Candidate evaluation was organized around four themes: work performance, school/community involvement, leadership and commitment, and service above and beyond.
O'Connell will formally honor the six award recipients on May 19 at a gala recognition luncheon he is hosting in Sacramento. The luncheon coincides with California's observation of the Classified School Employee Week, May 18-24.
The California Classified School Employees of the Year Award is sponsored by the California Department of Education in partnership with the California School Employees Association, Service Employees International Union, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, Association of California School Administrators, and business and industry organizations.
For more information, please visit Classified School Employee of the Year.
Here is a brief introduction to each 2008 Classified School Employee of the Year:
Anna Julian started at the Westminster School District in April 1986 and has been an active professional in the area of food services and the increasingly demanding requirements of food preparation and quality control required in public schools nationally. She is involved in school activities and has been a vice president of the California School Employees Association.
"At all times and in every situation, Anna is a positive and caring professional dedicated not only to our children and their welfare, but also to her fellow classified employees," said Westminster School District Superintendent Sharon L. Nordheim, in her letter of nomination. "She is consistent, reliable, positive, collaborative, helpful, and a genuine delight to work with and to observe."
Anna Julian can be reached at 714-893-3865.
Cheryl Spurgin has been a custodian at Wildwood Elementary School for nine years, the last two as Lead Custodian. Described as a "consummate professional," she is supportive of the school program and has been involved in the school site council.
"Mrs. Spurgin is one of the most talented and hardest-working custodians I have ever worked with," wrote Wildwood Principal Jim Stolze. "I see it every day. Wildwood is spotless. Despite the enormous standards she sets for herself, Mrs. Spurgin does her job with a smile. What (she) does beyond her regular work day is also notable. She gives back to the school and to the community in multiple ways."
Cheryl Spurgin can be reached at 909-790-8521.
Edward (Eddie) Cooper has been with the Fullerton School District for 26 years, 21 in his current position. He has been elected president of both the PTA and the School Site Council and received the district's prestigious "Above and Beyond Award" for his volunteer work and great attitude.
"Eddie is a good father, good husband, good employee, and good friend. Besides that he is my hero," wrote Principal Harriet Hermann. "In my eighteen years as a principal, I have never met anyone like him. He is hard working, sincere, humble and willing to go the extra mile."
Kathleen Carroll, director of Classified Personnel Services, added, "It is impossible to put into words the special characteristics of this employee, but descriptors such as self-effacing, selfless, patient, capable, intelligent, honest, caring, committed, and dedicated give a hint regarding the inherent worth and goodness of this individual. Throughout my years of working with Eddie, I never fail to wonder at the exceptional qualities and complexity of this man."
Eddie Cooper can be reached at 714-447-7445.
Maria (Rosa) Thompson has been a Resident Care Attendant in the English as a Second Language program (RCA-ESL) for 23 years and her duties include testing of English learners and direct instructional support for students in core classrooms. But she performs a great many other tasks, including translating for parent conferences, making bilingual phone calls, teaching evening and Saturday parenting classes, supervising one of the after school Homework Clubs, and assisting parents in acquiring food and clothing.
"Ms. Thompson is a true team player," wrote Vicki Ballard, Personnel Coordinator, in her nomination papers. "She is flexible and eager to help out in any situation. There is no task that Ms. Thompson sees as impossible and no challenge that is too tough to handle."
Rosa Thompson can be reached at 510-471-5363.
Laura (Lori) L. Klingensmith has been an administrative assistance at Andres Jackson Elementary School for 15 years and coordinates dozens of projects and assignments from attending to the needs of the students, parents, and staff to compiling the high school course catalog to ensuring everyone is up to date on disaster preparedness.
"Lori has a unique ability to sense our school's needs and fulfill them before a single request is made," said Mick Wilhite, school principal. "She stretches our school budget as far as it will go, working with local business at every chance. This year she was instrumental in having the local Rabo Bank sponsor our school for the year. This resulted in a mountain of school supplies and backpacks being donated for our students who otherwise would not have had them."
Lori Klingensmith can be reached at 760-775-3830 or 760-238-9921.
Joanne E. Gaylor has been a student services assistant since last year, and prior, an administrative assistant for the Bernard Hughes Elementary School since 1994. She has been a classified employee in the Empire Union School District since 1981, serving as an instructional aide at both the elementary and middle school levels.
"I have found Mrs. Gaylor to be one of the most outstanding employees I have ever had the pleasure to work with," said District Superintendent Robert Price. "She is a highly motivated person who brings an enthusiasm for her work every day. Joanne is not content with the status quo. Each day she approaches her work with an attitude of trying to do things better and make improvements in the school. She gives willingly of her own time to help out whenever her help is needed."
Joanne Gaylor can be reached at 209-527-1330.
