Announcing District Employees of the Year
This morning Superintendent Dr. Mitchell, Board Members and District leaders gathered to take part in three stealth missions: surprising each of the following employees with staff and students, informing them they represent the entire District as our 2018-19 District Employees of the Year:
Above: Rowland Association of Educators (ARE) President Shay Lohman laughs with Nogales High School Teacher Olivia Najar in the Nogales Gym this morning, where she figured out there was no "assembly," just an opportunity to surprise her with her award as District Teacher of the Year!
Below: The Board of Education and District leadership with Oliva and students.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Olivia Najar, Nogales High School
Students and staff filled the Nogales High School Gym this morning anticipating an assembly about the school's recent state Golden Bell Award. Everyone was surprised when Superintendent Dr. Mitchell, Board of Education and leadership team members unfurled a banner and announced Olivia Najar as the District's Teacher of the Year!

Olivia’s unfailing commitment to the practice of teaching is, in a word, inspiring. In her 12 years at Nogales High School, Olivia has never wavered in her commitment to student learning. Olivia teaches the special program, HOUSE for students who need extra support and she gives them just that. Olivia is a warm and welcoming person to all who need her and will frequently put in extra time to make sure that her students and her colleagues are not only surviving at school, but thriving. She genuinely wants the absolute best for each student and works to ensure it happens.
Above: SURPRISE! Giano's Monica Valadez rushed in for an "important meeting," only to find herself smack in the middle of a suprise gathering to honor her for being named the District Classified Employee of the Year! Below: Monica Valadez with CSEA President Sharon Carrillo and Superintendent Dr. Julie Mitchell.
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Monica Valadez, Secretary Bilingual
Monica Valadez, Bilingual Secretary at Giano, was feeling under the weather today and attempted to call in sick -- that is until she received an urgent message from her Principal Carlos Ochoa about an important meeting she had to attend. Imagine her surprise to find everyone -- including the Board of Education -- gathered for the "special meeting" to congratulate her for being named the District Classified Employee of the Year!

Monica is an exemplary employee. She approaches customer service with respect and compassion which has allowed us to forge and maintain positive relationships with students and families. She supports students on a daily basis, serving as the first contact with students that arrive at the Student Service Center. She supports all teachers in generating periodic behavior reports and assists with other data disaggregation that they may require. She also serves as our PTSA president, coordinating fundraising and parent involvement initiatives at the school.
Above: Northam students cheer for their Principal Dr. Celia Munguia for being named District Administrator of the Year. Below: Dr. Munguia shocked to receive her award!
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR: Dr. Celia Munguia, Principal of Northam Elementary
There was an assembly at Northam Elementary today for students to learn about instruments from the Rio Hondo Symphony. As Principal Dr. Munguia closed the assembly, she was caught by surprise as Superintendent Dr. Mitchell, Board of Education and leadership team members came in from a side doot to surprise her as they announced to the students that she was named District Administrator of the Year!

Dr. Celia Munguia has inspired her staff to truly know every student in order to meet their individual needs. Working alongside her teachers, data is reviewed and best practices are strategized to determine where each child is succeeding and where additional support is needed. Teachers are encouraged to take risks and try new strategies to improve the teaching and learning process for students. As a result, students are excelling, teachers are continuously engaged and supported in ongoing learning and the school is transforming students’ lives.
Congratulations to Our Outstanding
2018-19 Employees of the Year
CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR BY SITE

BLANDFORD ELEMENTARY
Adrian Guerrero , Senior Custodian (CLASSIFIED)
Greg Paynich, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

HOLLINGWORTH ELEMENTARY
Martha Camarena, Inst. Asst. (CLASSIFIED)
Yvonne Martini, TK Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

HURLEY ELEMENTARY
Yolanda Valencia, Inst. Asst. I B/B (CLASSIFIED)
Carolina Hernandez, Dual Imm. Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

JELLICK ELEMENTARY
Maria Barrios, Office Asst. Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Ashlee Hopson, SD Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

KILLIAN ELEMENTARY
Margarita Masana, Inst. Asst. II (CLASSIFIED)
Deborah Nason, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

NORTHAM ELEMENTARY
Jose Anaya Lupercio, Computer Lab Tech (CLASSIFIED)
Zenaida Zesati-Morales, RSP Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

RORIMER ELEMENTARY
Azanara (Ana) Stephano, Office Asst. Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Lorena Gonzalez, Instructional Coach (CERTIFICATED)

ROWLAND ELEMENTARY
Alicia Meldrum, Health Clerk Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Tracy Delligatta, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

SHELYN ELEMENTARY
Amy Lee, Community Liaison Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Grace Voong, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

VILLACORTA ELEMENTARY
Gabriel Leong, Library Asst. (CLASSIFIED)
Brigette Uribe, TOSA (CERTIFICATED)

YORBITA ELEMENTARY
Elizabeth Flores, Community Liasion (CLASSIFIED)
Kristin Mendoza, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

OSWALT ACADEMY
Dora Monforte, Office Asst. Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Samantha Rodriguez, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

TELESIS ACADEMY
Diana Hernandez, Office Asst. Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Beverly Heap Davis, Bldg. Counselor (CERTIFICATED)

YBARRA ACADEMY
Madeline Duran , Inst. Asst. II (CLASSIFIED)
Jacqueline Hill, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

ALVARADO INTERMEDIATE
Jocelyn Robbins , Inst. Asst. II (CLASSIFIED)
Linda Kim, Math Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

GIANO INTERMEDIATE
Monica Valadez, Secretary Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Perla Ocampo Pineda, Eng & Journalism Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL
Luisa Gaytan , Principal's Secretary Bil (CLASSIFIED)
Olivia Najar, ELA & House Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

ROWLAND HIGH SCHOOL
Angela Andino, Audio Visual/Textbook (CLASSIFIED)
Craig Baumunk, Math Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

SANTANA HIGH SCHOOL
Erlinda Martinez, Inst. Asst. II (CLASSIFIED)
Paloma Pineda, Teacher (CERTIFICATED)

RACE
Lita Hernandez, Office Asst. (CLASSIFIED)
Gale Lee, ESL Coordinator (CERTIFICATED)

DISTRICT OFFICE
Carlos Martinez, Buyer (CLASSIFIED)

TRANSPORTATION
Max Zelkwitz, Lead Mechanic (CLASSIFIED)

BUILDING SERVICES
Fernando Fernandez, Maintenance Wrkr (CLASSIFIED)

FOOD CENTER
Corina Garcia, Food Service Asst. I (CLASSIFIED)
RUSD SCORES TWO ACSA REGIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Dr. Julie Mitchell and
Rocky Bettar Representing ACSA Region 15
Congratulations to Superintendent Dr. Julie Mitchell and Rowland Adult and Community Education (RACE) Director Rocky Bettar, who have been named Administrators of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators Region IV (which covers 56 Districts throughout Los Angeles County). They will be recognized on April 30 at the ACSA awards dinner.

Rocky Bettar is considered an expert in the adult field by his peers. He has been a leader in adult education since 1995 when he became Director of Rowland Adult & Community Education and Career Preparation. He is an advocate for Adult Education at the local and state level and is contacted on a regular basis by his peers for answers, suggestions or help pertaining to Adult Education issues and concerns. He promotes the success of all adult students by ensuring that the programs and courses offered at RACE are taught by adult education teachers who are invested not only in the programs and courses that they teach, but also in the community they serve. Under his leadership, the school has been awarded the Golden Bell for its’ Community Based English Tutoring program and has attained a 6-year WASC Accreditation in every WASC that the school has done since 1995. RACE provides classes at 16 different locations throughout the Rowland Unified School District boundaries. We are proud of Bettar for his accomplishments to Rowland Unified and for the impact he makes with our students and community.

Rowland Unified Superintendent of Schools Dr. Julie Mitchell has brought to our organization a laser focus and unwavering vision and commitment to “innovative learning for all” that supports the needs of students, families and staff. Through focused organizational goals and empowering all members of the District, our schools are working together, engaging with students, parents and our community in new ways. Dr. Mitchell's vision has moved our organization to focus on the importance of providing student experiences that have rigor, relevance, and relationships, while offering increased learning opportunities that have student voice and choice, supported by teachers having strong content knowledge and technology in our classrooms. Over the past two years, this new vision has brought numerous awards, including nine of our schools garnering the state’s highest accolade as Gold Ribbon Schools. Congratulations to Dr. Mitchell for this award!
March 22, 2018 Issue Questions? Contact RUSD News Editor gward@rowlandschools.org
Proud to Serve Our Communities of Rowland Heights, La Puente, Walnut & West Covina
www.RowlandSchools.org