It was a celebration that had people dancing in the aisles as the district honored the countless contributions of its classified employees at the 2018 Classified Employee of the Year event.
Barbara Buchanan, school clerk at Point Loma High School, was named Classified Employee of the Year, and Rebecca Cisneros from Early Childhood Special Education and Euclid CDC, was named runner up.
“Barbara is a consummate team player and a key element in what makes Point Loma High School one of the best schools in the district,” said colleague Eric Brown. “Her work ethic, creation of a hospitable and welcoming environment for our Point Loma community, and her ability to take charge when needed sets her apart from others.”
Barbara Buchanan Tribute Video
Event photos
Both Buchanan and Cisneros have each been with the district for more than 30 years.
“Rebecca is a passionate employee who cares about all students and their well-being and demonstrates considerable care for her colleagues,” said CDC Program Manager Melissa Roy. “Rebecca's commitment to education, servant leadership and her desire to be actively involved in positive change for a school or district makes her the ideal employee.”
More than 350 employees and their families attended the annual celebration held at Patrick Henry High School. Both Buchanan and Cisneros were recognized on stage, as were more than 75 site classified honorees, who had the opportunity to come up on stage to say their names and work site. Presidents from each of the employee groups presented Buchanan and Cisneros with gifts, and praised the efforts of all classified staff throughout the district.
Entertainment was provided by the Fat Shirley Band, whose bass player was event host and former San Diego Unified classified employee, Herschel Johnson. The band had attendees dancing in the aisles.
Piatt Pund, sophomore at Mission Bay High School, performed the National Anthem.
Guests were also treated to a raffle, courtesy of event sponsors California Coast Credit Union, the Standard, Mission Federal Credit Union and Elivelife.com.
Prior to the formal ceremony, the district hosted a reception featuring appetizers and desserts prepared by students from San Diego Unified's award-winning culinary arts programs at Mira Mesa and San Diego high schools. The Gypsy Jazz Quartet from Mission Bay High School provided music.
The event was made possible with the help of these generous sponsors: Diamond sponsor California Schools VEBA, and silver sponsors Mission Federal Credit Union, California Coast Credit Union, The Standard and eLiveLife.com.
Site Classified Employee of the Year Honorees:
| Name of Classified Representative |
School or Department Name |
| Reyna Acosta Ruiz |
Ross Elementary School |
| Anglea Andres |
Ericson Elementary School |
| Lorena Arciga |
Fiscal Control |
| Christine Arreguin |
Memorial Preparatory for Scholars and Athletes |
| Theresa Avelis |
Clairemont High School |
| Cassie Barajas |
Roosevelt Middle School |
| Aubrey Barbarita |
Mira Mesa High School |
| Pamela Bell |
iHigh Virtual Academy |
| Denise Bernetsky |
Financial Planning, Monitoring & Accountability |
| Leslie Blair |
Scripps Ranch High School |
| Jennifer Borchardt |
Crown Point Junior Music Academy |
| Scott Bradley |
CPMA |
| Ana Brady |
Special Education |
| Rosemarie Breeze |
Rowan Elementary School |
| Joanna Britt |
Standley Middle School |
| Barbara Buchanan |
Point Loma High School |
| Shanicqua Bynnom |
Kennedy Child Development Center |
| Marie Byrd |
University City High School |
| Mike Candelario |
Valencia Park Elementary School |
| Ethylene Canete |
Boone Elementary School |
| Maria Cardona |
Horton Elementary School |
| Alma Casillas |
San Diego High School |
| Marival Castillo |
Bay Point Preschool |
| Jose Cerna |
Hoover High School |
| Miriam Ceron de Rodriguez |
Montgomery Middle School |
| Teresita Chavez |
Bethune K-8 |
| Rebecca Cisneros |
Early Childhood Special Education/Euclid CDC |
| Jeff Cowman |
Hearst Elementary School |
| Susan Cox |
Bay Point Preschool |
| Andrea Craft |
Low Incidence Programs |
| Sokphea Cross |
Hickman Elementary School |
| Diana Delacruz |
Morse High School |
| Liem Do |
Birney Elementary School |
| Deborah Duncan |
Muirlands Middle School |
| Patricia Duran |
Human Resources |
| Zeinab Elmashad |
Cadman Elementary School |
| Leslie Esparza |
Walker Child Development Center |
| Kimberly Eurich |
Torrey Pines Elementary School |
| Vickie Fahn |
Fletcher Elementary School |
| Shauna Fitzpatrick |
Mission Bay High School |
| Marjorie Florio |
Jerabek Elementary School |
| Yvonne Gafa |
Innovation Middle School |
| Norma Gallegos |
Mt. Everest Academy |
| Luz Garcia |
ALBA |
| Ashley (Britania) Garcia |
Cabrillo Elementary School |
| Nicole Gee |
Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary School |
| Tina Gerstler |
Lewis Middle School |
| Irene Gil |
Adams Elementary School |
| Magda Gonsalves |
Webster Elementary School |
| Evelia Gonzalez |
Sherman Elementary School |
| Sherita Green |
Lincoln High School |
| Sabrina Hahnlein |
Ericson Elementary School |
| Earl Hamilton |
De Portola Middle School |
| David Henderson |
Challenger Middle School |
| Maria Hevener |
Walker Elementary School |
| Christy Holly |
East Village High School |
| Amber Hood |
Lafayette Elementary School |
| Ramona Huerta |
Clark Middle School |
| Gabriel Huezo |
Materiel Control Department |
| Laura Huezo |
San Diego High School |
| Carmen Island |
Wilson Middle School |
| Lynda Johnson |
Dailard Elementary School |
| Michelle Joiner |
Jones Elementary School |
| Tim Jollett |
Loma Portal Elementary School |
| Zappard Jones-Lemons |
Kennedy Child Development Center |
| Charlene Juarez |
Hage Elementary School |
| Karen Lacey-Jackson |
Bell Middle School |
| Philip Lawrence |
Wegeforth Elementary School |
| Felicia Ledesma |
Porter Elementary Preschool |
| Sandra Leone |
Home Hospital and Transition Supports School |
| Blanca Loya |
Jefferson Elementary School |
| Jacqueline Luquin |
Kumeyaay Elementary School |
| Maria (Carmen) Maderias |
Jonas Salk Elementary School |
| Linda Manabat |
Knox Middle School |
| Guadalupe Christina Martinez |
Freese Elementary School |
| Tamara Mason |
School Police |
| Mark McGee |
Wangenheim Middle School |
| Tara McNamara |
Food and Nutrition Services |
| Edgar Mejia |
Whittier School K-12 |
| Patricia Melban |
Pacific Beach Elementary School |
| Victor Mendez |
Oak Park Elementary School |
| Ana Mendoza Ramirez |
Special Education |
| Taylor Messinger |
Whittier School K-12 |
| Judy Meyers |
Translation Department |
| Leticia Miramontes |
Emerson Bandini Elementary School |
| Michelle Mitchell |
Joyner Elementary School |
| Noorita Molden |
Perry Elementary School |
| Lilia Neri De Hidalgo |
Correia Middle School |
| Cameron Octon |
Tierrasanta Elementary School |
| Daniel Ortiz |
Facilities Planning and Construction |
| Kristina Paine |
Grant K-8 |
| Jeff Palovich |
Hancock Elementary School |
| Mizue Pangelinan |
Johnson Elementary School |
| Kenyon Patterson |
Dingeman Elementary School |
| Ana Pena Aguilar |
Cherokee Point Elementary School |
| Maria (Vickie) Pina |
Baker Elementary School |
| Irene Quinata |
Crawford High School |
| Amir A. Rahim |
Bell Middle School |
| Priscilla Ramirez |
Central Elementary School |
| Berhanu Refera |
Hawthorne Elementary School |
| Alma Reyes |
Field Elementary School |
| Kenia Rivera |
Carson Elementary Steam Magnet School |
| Merlinda Roadarmel |
McKinley Elementary School |
| Karina Rodriguez |
Millennial Tech Middle School |
| David Rodriguez |
Operations Division |
| Jennifer Roll |
Nursing & Wellness Department |
| Amber Rowe |
TRACE |
| Jennifer Ruffo |
San Diego High School |
| Maria Salgado |
Toler Elementary School |
| Marcy Sanders |
Henry High School |
| Nancy Sanfilippo |
EB Scripps Elementary School |
| Melina Santana |
Pacific View Leadership Elementary |
| Irene Santos |
Alexander Hamilton Elementary School |
| Marianne Schamp |
Vista Grande Elementary School |
| Maria Shaw |
Communications Department |
| Toni Shaw |
Mann Middle School |
| Roxanne Smith |
Hardy Elementary School |
| Yolanda Smith |
Penn Elementary School |
| Bonnie Sobieck |
Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy |
| Sheryl Stearns |
Accounts Payable |
| Celles Steel |
Fulton K-8 School |
| Corey Straily |
Assistive Technology |
| Jesus Tapia |
Encanto Elementary School |
| Liliana Torres |
Burbank Elementary School |
| Mary Trombley |
Madison High School |
| Kate Tronerud |
Fay Elementary School |
| Jonathan Turner |
Twain High School |
| Catalina Valenzuela |
Crown Point Junior Music Academy |
| Marina Valenzuela |
Porter Elementary School |
| Victor Vargas |
Oak Park Elementary School |
| Roberto Villa |
Carver Elementary School |
| Margarita Villegas |
Zamorano Fine Arts Academy |
| Yvonne Walden |
John Muir |
| Sharon Wood |
Silver Gate Elementary School |