Member works to prepare students and parents for college 

Julius Holtzclaw gives back everyday to the community that raised him. As the administrative assistant to the principal at Bayside Elementary School in Sausalito, Holtzclaw has built trusting relationships with students and parents.

After hours, the devotion continues, as Holtzclaw volunteers for a program called GEAR UP Family Initiatives Project, where he facilitates a six-week program to educate students and parents about how to prepare for college.

“I teach students about the college preparatory classes they should take in both middle and high school in order to be eligible for the college, university or technical school of their choice,” said Holtzclaw, president of Golden Gate Chapter 394. “At the same time, I teach parents about these classes. I also try to guide them on how to positively interact with teachers, counselors and administrators to be proactive in their child’s life.”

Holtzclaw’s program includes workshops on the right path for students to take to get to college,
college requirements and financial aid options and grants.

“This is important to me because I have never met a parent who did not aspire for their child to attend college or an institution of higher learning,” he said.

 Holtzclaw lives in Marin City, which shares a ZIP code with—but is not as affluent as—the city of Sausalito. Holtzclaw said part of his dedication to the program is to show that students from his community can also attend the college of their choice.

“I want people to know that students who are raised in Marin City are capable of attending college, should they choose to,” he said. “By volunteering in this capacity, I feel that I am doing my part by bestowing knowledge and guidance toward a bright and successful career for my students and their families.”

A CSEA member for 11 years, Holtzclaw has served the Sausalito Marin City School District in a variety of capacities—from behavioral assistant to bus driver to paraeducator. Working in some of the same schools he attended, Holtzclaw has a unique view of the students and parents in the district. For many parents, he is the main contact for Bayside School. He tries to create a strong relationship within the school community.

“I have parents who have threatened to take their children out of school if I would ever choose to pursue another career,” he said.

Holtzclaw isn’t only an employee of the school district—he also has taken responsibility at a young age for raising two of his nephews. Consequently, after seeing the students all day at work, many of them come over to his house after school to play. This provides him unique insight into his job.

Holtzclaw said volunteering in his community matches the mission of CSEA—improving the lives of his members through the GEAR UP program, of students by teaching them to be successful, and of the community by dispelling stereotypes and highlighting success stories.

“There is no greater reward than to volunteer. I just do it because it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “I love my kids, I love my students, I love my job and I love my community.”