Just ahead of Classified School Employee Week, May 15-21, the Santa Barbara County Education Office has named the Santa Barbara County winners of the 2022 Classified School Employees of the Year awards.
The awards are presented as a program of the California Department of Education (CDE). County education offices select employees nominated by school districts in their counties in nine classified school employment categories: Clerical/Administrative, Custodial/Maintenance, Food and Nutrition, Health and Student Services, Paraprofessional, Security Services, Skilled Trades, Technical Services, and Transportation.
The winners from each county are nominated for the statewide award in their respective category.
Northern Santa Barbara County school districts stood out this year, producing the winners in the seven categories for which nominations were received. Five of the seven county winners are from the Orcutt Union School District. The other two are from the Guadalupe Union School District and Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.
Timothy Romine, vehicle and equipment mechanic for Orcutt Union School District (OUSD), was selected by the CDE as the statewide winner of the Skilled Trades category. He was recognized by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and is eligible for the national Recognizing Inspiring School Employees award from the U.S. Department of Education.
“Classified employees provide the essential services that keep our students safe, well, and learning,” said Susan Salcido, Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools. “They support teachers, school staff and countless others to make our public school system the vital resource hub that it is for students and families.
“I congratulate the winners and appreciate the many contributions our classified employees make each and every day of the year.”
The Santa Barbara County winners are:
Skilled trades: Timothy Romine, Orcutt Union School District. As OUSD’s only mechanic, Romine is responsible for keeping all vehicles and equipment owned by the district operating at the highest level possible. “His work performance is exceptional and he raises the level of work of those around him. All of our staff know, like and respect Tim immensely.” — nomination form.
Clerical/administrative: Kim Domingues, of OUSD, is the office manager at Orcutt Academy High School. Her nomination form described her as “the heart and soul of the office and school. She helps staff in a million different ways to keep our school running successfully.”
Custodial/maintenance: Ernesto Vela, OUSD, is the site custodian at Olga Reed School and Orcutt Academy K-8. He ensures students have a safe, clean place to learn. Vela’s nomination form says he: “has an inner drive to perform a job well done and do what’s right for kids.” He is described as “an exemplar of what a site custodian can and should be … modeling good citizenship, a hard work ethic, and respectful treatment of others.”
Food and nutrition: Chandra Lauer, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, is the food service worker lead at Ernest Righetti High School. She has served the district for 28 years. She worked throughout the entire pandemic, serving 750,000 meals to students during the school closure period.
According to Lauer’s nomination form, her food service staff, which includes 15-20 student workers, adore working for her and in the positive environment she’s created. “The calm steady flow of the kitchen reflects Chandra’s calm, consistent demeanor, and leadership style. She leads by example, working hard, staying calm, and being organized.”
Health and student services: Norma Cuevas, Guadalupe Union School District, is a health technician at Mary Buren Elementary School. According to her nomination: “Norma’s contributions to supporting new guidelines and protocols were essential to the success of the school year.
She was a key player in managing Covid cases on campus and could be relied upon to share information with staff and parents in a confident manner. Even when emotions run high, “she is always considerate and patient when talking with parents.”
Paraprofessional: Jane Gallet, OUSD, is an instructional aide at Joe Nightingale Elementary School. She has been an instructional aide for the district since 2005. According to her nomination form, Gallet serves as an example that paraprofessional staff members are key to helping create a space for students with disabilities.
“She consistently models kindness and promotes understanding and acceptance of individual differences,” the nomination said.
Transportation: Jana Graham is the transportation coordinator for OUSD. She is known as someone who leads by example. “She walks the walk,” according to her nomination. “There is no task within the Transportation Department that she has not done herself.
“Graham recruits and trains bus drivers, identifies suitable bus stops, develops bus schedules, works on transportation for special needs students, and collaborates with teachers and school office staff on field trips.”