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CSEA members named California’s Classified School Employees of the Year

SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has named six outstanding school employees as California’s 2008 Classified School Employees of the Year, the inaugural year of the recognition program. Five of the winners are CSEA members.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners on behalf of CSEA,” said Association President Rob Feckner. “This award honors the outstanding efforts of these individuals and acknowledges the essential work that all classified employees contribute to our students and schools.”

The 2008 Classified School Employees of the Year are:
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.

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 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 formally honored the six award recipients on May 19 at a gala recognition luncheon in Sacramento. The luncheon coincides with California’s observation of 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.

CSEA announces its 2008 Members of the Year

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