San Diego Unified names Classified Employee of the Year, honors others at annual event
Carolina Iglesias' primary role at Marston Middle may be enrollment clerk, but her reach extends far beyond enrollment. Her compassion for students and willingness to step in wherever needed are just a few of the reasons she has been named San Diego Unified's Classified Employee of the Year for 2017.
Iglesias and more than 120 other classified employees were honored by the district at its annual Classified Employee of the Year celebration at Patrick Henry High School. The event is held during Classified School Employee Week, which is designated each year as the third full week of May.
The honorees were recognized for their contributions in creating a positive school environment where students can thrive.
“Carolina is extremely deserving of this recognition because she does whatever is needed [at the school],” said Marston Principal Jonathan Gollias. “She has tremendous initiative, she has so much compassion for others, and she is so invested in the school. We're lucky to have Carolina.”
Carolina Iglesias Tribute Video
Jeanne Stifter, school clerk at Jerabek Elementary School, was named runner up.
More than 200 staff, administrators, classified employees and their guests attended the ceremony. Both Iglesias and Stifter were recognized on stage, as were the more than 100 site Classified honorees, who had the opportunity to come up on stage to say their names, work site, and number of years they've been with the district.
Entertainment was provided by the Fat Shirley Band, whose bass player was event host and San Diego Unified classified employee, Herschel Johnson. The band had honorees and guests dancing in the aisles.
Guests were also treated to a raffle, courtesy of event sponsors California Coast Credit Union, the Standard, Mission Federal Credit Union, Elivelife.com and the San Diego Padres. Students from Patrick Henry High School performed the National Anthem.
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 Madison and San Diego high schools.
The event was made possible with the help of these generous sponsors: Mission Federal Credit Union, California Coast Credit Union, The Standard, California Schools VEBA, eLiveLife.com and the San Diego Padres.