PRESS RELEASE:

This week Bend-La Pine Schools honors its more than 800 dedicated classified staff members during National Classified School Employees Week, March 5-9. These support staff members serve students and schools in a wide range of ways: serving meals, driving buses, greeting visitors, assisting with technology, maintaining buildings, serving in classrooms and much more.

“Our classified staff members are essential for our schools to function and this week we honor and celebrate their tremendous contributions and dedication,” said Superintendent Shay Mikalson. “We hope our parents, students, teachers and community will take a moment to thank the support staff members at our schools for their hard work and commitment.”

Each year, Bend-La Pine Schools honors one support staff member as Outstanding Support Person of the Year. This year, Raquel Hernandez, a Family Access Network advocate at Pilot Butte Middle School, was honored. She has an extensive knowledge of the resources available to families and thinks strategically about resources that are marshaled throughout the district. From finding students shoes to health care options, Hernandez tries to make sure students have what they need to be successful in school.

“I want to make sure students have everything they need in order to be ready to come to school every day and be ready to learn. To me, there is no greater joy than to see a child smile and know that I’ve made a difference,” said Hernandez.

Other staff members honored this year include:

• Glen Carey, Custodial Foreman at William E. Miller Elementary School
• Carol Evans, Office Manager at Bear Creek Elementary School
• Joi Leahy, School to Career Coordinator at Mountain View High School
• Andrew Sawyer, Custodial Foreman at Marshall High School
• Nancy Stuart, Office Manager at High Lakes Elementary School
• Vince Valenti, IT Engineer for Bend-La Pine Schools