Woodland Joint Unified School District leadership joins classified staff for 'Job Shadow Day'

By Carlos Guerrero on July 11, 2024

As part of an ongoing recognition and appreciation of classified staff, Woodland Joint Unified School District administrators and trustees joined employees at their work sites in May for "Job Shadow Day."

California's legislature recognizes the important contributions of classified school employees and named the third full week of May "Classified School Employee Week" to honor their contributions.

WJUSD administrators and trustees celebrated this honor by "walking a mile in the shoes" of classified employees, including bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, paraprofessionals, library technicians, administrative assistants, and other classified employees as they perform their vital services for our district.

"Job shadowing comes from the ACE (Appreciating Classified Employees) program that the California School Employees Association (CSEA) runs during Classified School Employee Week," said Rebecca Rossiter, a library technician II at Douglass Middle School and president of CSEA Chapter 118. "Job shadowing gives our District Office administrators, directors, board members, and principals an opportunity to have a positive interaction with a classified employee they typically wouldn't encounter and gain a better understanding of how that person is helping build a strong support system for our students. The goal of the event is to build relationships and gain an understanding of classified jobs by walking a mile in our shoes."

Andrea Gonzalez, a Community and Family Engagement (CAFE) specialist at Dingle Elementary School, was shadowed by Board President Rogelio Villagrana, who worked alongside her at their weekly pop-up Parent Resource Center event.

As part of "Job Shadow Day," Board President Rogelio Villagrana joins Dingle Elementary School CAFE Specialist Andrea Gonzalez at the school's pop-up Parent Resource Center event in May. (Courtesy)

"Every Thursday I roll out a cart after school that stores different community and education resources for families," Gonzalez said. "It's like a service desk where they can come and ask any question. This week I was highlighting summer programs and activities for our students and had food distribution from the Yolo Food Bank. Trustee Villagrana assisted with food distribution and engaged with parents and students that came up to the cart."

At Tafoya Elementary School, Office Coordinator Lindsey Bruner was shadowed by Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin.

"I had the privilege of having our District's superintendent shadow me," Bruner said. "I demonstrated how I manage my site's budget, handle phone calls, and support the dismissal process. Additionally, I had the opportunity to walk around the campus with her and explain how various aspects of our operations work as we interacted with the staff."

Classified staff are district employees, other than credentialed teachers, who provide high-quality services that students benefit from. Their roles are essential to the district's mission of preparing and empowering all students for a future of endless possibilities.

"I very much appreciate having been part of our classified staff job shadow day," said Board President Rogelio Villagrana. "Working alongside Andrea Gonzalez allowed me to see firsthand the critical support our classified employees provide to our students and families. It's a reminder that their dedication and hard work is absolutely essential to our district's success."

"Shadowing Lindsey Bruner at Tafoya Elementary School was a great experience," added Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin. "I gained invaluable insights into the daily operations and challenges faced by our classified employees. This hands-on opportunity truly highlights the importance of the various roles across our district that create a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for our students and families."

Classified staff who participated in the event also said they benefited from the day.

"The experience was incredibly rewarding for me," Bruner said. "It provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate my day-to-day tasks and responsibilities in a fast-paced and busy environment. I enjoyed showcasing how I manage various aspects of my role. This interaction highlighted my skills and fostered a deeper connection with a senior leader in our district. Overall, the experience was enlightening and motivating, reinforcing my dedication to my work and my passion for serving our school community."