CSEA members honored by education foundation
Working behind the scenes can have its rewards. That’s what CSEA members from Tahoe-Truckee Chapter 383 found out when they were honored by the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation.
Custodian Clemente Sarabia, attendance secretary Chris White, secretary Maricela Calderon and librarian Dianne Verutti received a plaque, flowers and a $1,000 check from the foundation for being named as the foundation’s first classified school employee Star Award recipients. The 23-year old foundation raises funds for the school district’s programs. It has recognized teachers with their own Star Award for several years, but this was the first time it asked for nominations of classified employees.
“We know that classified employees are the ones working behind the scenes,” said Laura Brown, the foundation’s executive director. “It’s great to see how much appreciation there is for them within the district.”
Brown said that the foundation received 34 letters nominating 14 different individuals.
“The nominations were very touching because this is obviously a very hardworking group of individuals,” Brown said. “There was a natural break in the nominations and these four really rose to the top.”
There aren’t enough words to describe the qualities that make Kings Beach Elementary secretary Calderon stand out. She handles emergencies, paperwork, boo-boos, machine repairs and all of those other things that school secretaries are asked to do with such grace that it amazes staff members and parents.
With a contagious enthusiasm for reading and a sharp mind for remembering students’ likes and dislikes, Tahoe Lake Elementary librarian Verutti inspires students to read. Nominators said that she is so intuitive when it comes to books that students eagerly read entire book series that she suggests.
Sarabia, who works at Truckee High School, was lauded for taking the time to make sure that the campus is ready for the students even after a snow storm. “He finishes the unfinishable,” is what one staffer wrote about Sarabia in a nomination form.
If there’s anyone who cares about students and goes above and beyond her call of duty to show it, it’s Truckee High School attendance secretary White, nominators said. She connects with students on a personal level and drives them toward success by reassuring them that she cares about their future.
Dina Krider, president of Tahoe-Truckee Chapter 383, said she is happy that the local education foundation and the school district understand the importance of classified school employees.
“I’m really thrilled because it’s nice to have our people recognized,” Krider said. “We have a good district and it’s good to know that it reaches out to classified school employees.”