Capistrano Unified celebrates teachers and classified employees of the year

By Chelsea Turner

Although their celebrations look a bit different this year, Capistrano Unified School District’s appreciation for the incredible work of their teachers and classified staff remains the same.

Last February, district officials and teachers union leaders made surprise visits to classrooms as they announced their three Teachers of the Year.

Over the summer, similar surprise visits were made to recognize Classified Employees of the Year – this time at their homes!

With group gatherings out of the question due to the pandemic, the district was unable to host events as originally planned to recognize all their 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year, Classified Employees of the Year, and nominees.

Please enjoy this video message to recognize the CUSD 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year and Classified Employees of the year for the work they do each day to support the district’s 47,000 students.

The district is currently in the selection process to name the 2020-2021 Teachers of the Year and in a few months will also be selecting their 2020-2021 Classified Employees of the Year.

2019-2020 Teachers of the Year

**District Winner

Aliso Niguel High: Doug Mack
Aliso Viejo Middle: Jennifer Skala
Ambuehl Elementary: Corinne Russomanno
Arroyo Vista Elementary: Jill Edwards
Arroyo Vista Middle: Jody Dykes
Bathgate Elementary: Jodie Tokatlian
Benedict Elementary: Stefanie Lamar
Bergeson (Marian) Elementary: Beth Bell
Bernice Ayer Middle: Jalal Masri
Cal Prep Academy & Capo Virtual: Suzy Hetos
Canyon Vista Elementary: Deanne Mayemura
Capo Valley High: Christy Curtis**
Castille Elementary: Leigh-Ann Daggett
Chaparral Elementary: Jennifer Beneventi
Concordia Elementary: La Verne Fomenko
Dana Hills High: James Daly
Del Obispo Elementary: Claudia Ledri
Don Juan Avila Elementary: Jocelyn Sukraw
Don Juan Avila Middle: Stacy Olson
Esencia Elementary: Kris Cuevas
Esencia Middle: Jill Brennan
(George White Elementary: Celeste Swenson
Hankey (Carl) Elementary: Amy Koch
Hankey (Carl) Middle: Lisa Boothe
Hidden Hills Elementary: Megan Reece
Kinoshita Elementary: Amy De Vore
Ladera Ranch Elementary: Evoven Gelsinger
Ladera Ranch Middle: Leah Nicolai
Laguna Niguel Elementary: Steve Lopinto**
Las Flores Elementary: Kim Belmont
Las Flores Middle: Linda Whitmore
Las Palmas Elementary: Eryn Connors
Lobo (Clarence) Elementary: Kim Richardson
Malcom Elementary: Kara Hudson
Marblehead Elementary: Siobhan Simmon
Marco Forster Middle: Lindsey Behm**
Moulton Elementary: Laurie Curran
Music: Chad Cunningham
Newhart (Fred) Middle: Heather Siplivy
Niguel Hills Middle: Tess Lovett
Oak Grove Elementary: Christina Filia
Oso Grande Elementary: Mary Gustafson
Palisades Elementary: Anne Chapman
R. H. Dana Elementary: Geraldine Jacome
R. H. Dana ENF: Gina Fedena
Reilly (Philip) Elementary: Shelley McLennan
San Clemente High: Lisa Kerr
San Juan Elementary: Veronica De Lira
San Juan Hills High: Kim Stanga
Serra & Fresh Start: Ranna Dendel
Shorecliffs Middle: Kira McNeill
Tesoro High: Pedro Pulido
Tijeras Creek Elementary: Melissa Cox
Viejo Elementary: Lisette Vega
Vista del Mar Elementary: Kelli Hudelson
Vista del Mar Middle: Sylvia Garwood
Wagon Wheel Elementary: Madeline Haboian
Wood Canyon Elementary: Collene Ortiz

2019-2020 Classified Employees of the Year and Nominees

**District Winner

Child Nutrition

Jorge Enciso, Food Service Worker, District Office, 15 years of service
Rachelle Flores, Food Service Worker, Central Worker, 4 years of service
Lyla Haralson, Food Service Worker, Aliso Viejo Middle School, 15 years of service
Wendy Justesen, Food Service Worker, District Office, 11 years of service
Carrie Koch, Lead Food Service Professional, Central Worker, 12 years of service**
Lorenzo Romero-Mendoza, Storekeeper/Delivery Driver, Central Worker, 8 years of service

Maintenance and Operations

Kevin Marron, Custodian I, Dana Hills High School, 2 years of service
Osvaldo Florentino, Custodian III, Don Juan Avila Middle School, 6 years of service
Rigoberto Umana-Choto, Custodian I, Capistrano Valley High School, 18 years of service
Gerardo Escobedo, Custodian I, Tesoro High School 15 years of service
Rafael Guitierrez, Custodian I, Shorecliffs Middle School, 6 years of service
Jose Muratalla, Irrigation Specialist, District Office, 18 years of service
Jonathan Portillo Quintanar, Custodian III, Esencia K-8, 5 years of service
Norma Rodriguez, Custodian I, Del Obispo Elementary School, 4 years of service
Arnie Smith, Custodian III, Vista Del Mar Elementary School, 29 years of service**
Jerry Valencia, Custodian I, John Malcom Elementary School, 4 years of service
Victor Garcia, Custodian II, Moulton Elementary School, 21 years of service
Rafael Roman, Locksmith, District Office, 32 years of service
Jesus Jose Garcia, Jr., HVAC and Refrigeration Technician, District Office, 15 years of service
Juan Carillo, Custodian III, Aliso Niguel High School, 25 years of service

Office and Technical

Yolanda Gascon, Bilingual Elementary School Clerk, Las Palmas Elementary School, 9 years of service**
Kathryn Havard, Office Manager, Bernice Ayer Middle School, 5 years of service
Kelly Hart, School Secretary II, Dana Hills High School, 12 years of service
Kelley Thomas, Office Manager, Las Flores Elementary School, 19 years of service
Sandra Wilbur, School Secretary I, Capistrano Home/Virtual School, 21 years of service
Denice Summers, Office Manager, Fred Newhart Middle School, 6 years of service
Fernando Martinez, Technology Support Specialist I, District Office, 8 years of service
Cathy Boon, School Clerk Elementary, Wagon Wheel Elementary, 11 years of service
Kathy Douglas, School Secretary II, Las Flores Middle School, 6 years of service
Felix Hernandez, Academic Advisor, Serra High School, 19 years of service
Lynne Bell, Academic Advisor, Capistrano Valley High School, 19 years of service
Laurie Adams, Elementary School Clerk, Hidden Hills Elementary School, 18 years of service
Terri Boardman, School Secretary II, Tesoro High School, 22 years of service
Guadalupe Brady, School Clerk II, Niguel Hills Middle School, 17 years of service
Stephanie Brizeno, Head Academic Advisor, San Clemente High School, 5 years of service
Wendy Buhrmaster, Office Manager, Moulton Elementary School, 5 years of service
Lisa Cassarino, Academic Advisor, San Juan Hills High School, 13 years of service
Michele Del Toro, Elementary School Clerk, Don Juan Avila Elementary School, 4 years of service
Nathan Dwyer, Technology Support Specialist II, District Office, 1 years of service
Jane Egertson, Office Manager, Bathgate Elementary School, 17 years of service
Rosalva Flores, Elementary School Clerk, George White Elementary School, 7 years of service
Jennifer Fojas, Elementary School Clerk, Arroyo Vista K-8, 5 years of service
Sharon Gibby, Office Manager, Dana Hills High School, 16 years of service
Douglas Hanson, Technology Support Specialist I, District Office 1, years of service
Marie Huffman, Activities Accounts Clerk, Capistrano Valley High School, 6 years of service
Lori Kosky, School Clerk II, Tesoro High School, 17 years of service
Kerri Maxwell, School Secretary II, Arroyo Vista K-8, 14 years of service
Deborah Miller, Academic Advisor, Las Flores Middle School, 7 years of service
Nancy Neyra-Reyes, Bilingual Community Services Liaison, Marblehead Elementary School, 9 years of service
Amanda Stayberg, Office Manager, Vista Del Mar Elementary School, 20 years of service
Sheryl Williams, Office Manager, Arroyo Vista K-8, 5 years of service
Travis Wyatt, Technology Support Specialist III, District Office, 3 years of service
Sian Young, Staff Secretary, Human Resource Services, 21 years of service
Tammy Wilson, Account Clerk II, Transportation, 18 years of service
Stephanie Monarrez, Bilingual Staff Secretary, Transportation, 4 years of service
Linda Dearinger, Senior Staff Secretary, Safety and Student Services, 7 years of service
Patti Grant, Office Manager, Palisades Elementary School, 7 years of service
Rebecca Evenson, Senior Staff Secretary, Human Resource Services, 5 years of service
Dan Kim, Programmer/Analyst, District Office, 3 years of service
Judy Ester, Information Systems Specialist III, District Office, 22 years of service

Para-Educator and Instructional Assistance

Jody Bridwell, Paraeducator, R.H. Dana, ENF, 20 years of service
Emily Engelson, Senior IBI Tutor, Las Flores Elementary School, 10 years of service
Suzanne Hart, Paraeducator, John Malcom Elementary School, 15 years of service
Melinda Harwood, Paraeducator, Vista Del Mar Middle School, 23 years of service
Jana Hertz, Braille Transcriber, George White Elementary School, 29 years of service
Safia Hoqoq, Paraeducator IV, Dana Hills High School, 19 years of service**
Judy Anthony, Independence Facilitator, Las Flores Middle School, 13 years of service
Rachael Miranda, Paraeducator, Wagon Wheel Elementary, 14 years of service
Connie Norland, Paraeducator, Vista Del Mar Elementary School, 7 years of service
Jodi Appelgate, Independent Facilitator, Del Obispo Elementary School, 29 years of service
Salina Ayers, Independence Facilitator, Palisades Elementary School, 9 years of service
Mary Beck, Paraeducator, R.H. Dana ENF, 15 years of service
Sandra Lynn Berg, Paraeducator, Wagon Wheel Elementary, 18 years of service
Cindy Goodrich, SLPA, Oso Grande Elementary School, 9 years of service
Angela Jent, Paraeducator, Adult Transition Program, 23 years of service
Karen Keyte, Paraeducator, R.H. Dana ENF, 39 years of service
Kendra Mebus, Paraeducator, Las Flores Middle School, 5 years of service
Bridget Monge, Paraeducator IV, Lobo Elementary School, 5 years of service
Bharti Patel, Paraeducator, Aliso Viejo Middle School, 19 years of service
Amie Pekarek, Paraeducator, San Clemente High School, 3 years of service
Susan Smith, Paraeducator, Adult Transition Program, 22 years of service
Pamela Soltis, IBI Assistant Tutor, Castille Elementary School, 24 years of service
Kimberly Velasquez, Paraeducator, Marco Forster Middle School, 20 years of service
Jamie Warth, Paraeducator, John Malcom Elementary School, 6 years of service
Patricia Wirtz, Paraeducator, Dana Hills High School, 11 years of service
Debra Woolwine, Paraeducator, Adult Transition Program, 14 years of service
Kimberly Doering, Independence Facilitator, Transportation, 16 years of service
Mitravinda Burns, Paraeducator, Transportation, 17 years of service
Tammy Moore, Paraeducator Adult Transition Program, 13 years of service
Susan Korby, Paraeducator, Laguna Niguel Elementary School, 5 years of service
Sonja Slye, Paraeducator, Phillip Reilly Elementary School, 19 years of service
Gabrielle Keyte, Paraeducator IV, R. H. Dana ENF, 11 years of service

Support Services and Security

Rebecca Mejia, Bilingual Community Liaison, District Office, 25 years of service
Tanya Enslen, Library Media Technician, Multiple Sites/Oak Grove Elementary School, 3 years of service
Cynthia Handajani, Campus Supervisor, Arroyo Vista K-8, 4 years of service
Claudia Infante, Bilingual Community Services Liaison, San Juan Hills Elementary School, 9 years of service
Tracey Morris, Library Media Technician, Tesoro High School, 10 years of service
Patricia Novobilski, Campus Supervisor, Arroyo Vista K-8, 12 years of service
Christine Rooth, LVN, Adult Transition Program, 3 years of service
Carmen Tavernetti, Bilingual Community Liaison, Kinoshita Elementary School, 10 years of service
Olivia Vannatta, Student Supervisor, Viejo Elementary School, 13 years of service
Tracy Vargas, LVN, Castille Elementary School, 6 years of service**
Amy Wilson, Campus Supervisor, Arroyo Vista K-8, 6 years of service

Transportation

Rhonda Corona, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 19 years of service
Patricia Garcia, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 29 years of service**
Lisa Paris, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 4 years of service
James Conti, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 19 years of service
Janice Scott, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 4 years of service
Ira Lewitter, State Certified Instructor, Transportation, 5 years of service
Kathleen Hanley, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 3 years of service
Lima Omar, Dispatcher, Transportation, 22 years of service
Elizabeth Gustafson, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 5 years of service
Pamela Devinci, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 23 years of service
Brian Fultz, School Bus Driver Transportation, 23 years of service
Nader Michael, Route Specialist, Transportation, 21 years of service
Molly Thoman, Route Planner, Transportation, 17 years of service
Bonnie Brandom, School Bus Driver, Transportation, 2 years of service