For students, parents and staff at Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy, it comes as no surprise that health technician Alicia Miranda has been selected to represent Stanislaus County in the California Classified Employee of the Year program.
However, that did not stop them from gathering before school on Friday to formally congratulate Miranda with a special ceremony that included flowers, signs and an appreciative chant.
“We should not have been surprised,” Principal Ed Ewing told students. “Alicia is awesome.”
Miranda was one of the 16 employees honored at the district level for the Employees Making a Difference Award, which highlighted employees from the following service areas: Child Nutrition, Maintenance/Operations, Office/Technical, Para Educators/Instructional Assistants, Support Services/Security, and Transportation.
“I am honored that I am representing Osborn and all of our parents and students who have supported and encouraged me,” said Miranda earlier this month. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here. This means the world to me.”
Miranda was also one of the three employees nominated to move on to the county level for the award.
“This program helps us recognize the efforts of some of our outstanding classified employees, many of whom are unsung heroes behind the scenes, yet critical to the education of our children,” said Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools Tom Chagnon.
During a reception hosted by SCOE earlier this week, Miranda and five other classified staff members from the county were selected to represent Stanislaus County in the California Classified Employee of the Year Program.
“I just feel like I’m representing all the hard-working people in the district, as well as the parents and students because they have given me a lot a love,” said Miranda on Friday.
Miranda reports that even after 40 years of working with the district, she still loves coming to work every day. The health technician also volunteers for the school’s PTA, school site council, and is a member of the Positive Behavior Leadership Team.
The statewide program, which is hosted by the California Department of Education, strives to identify and honor the classified employees throughout California who go above and beyond in contributions made to their school environments.
Winners of the California Classified Employees of the Year will be selected in April. Once notified by the state superintendent of public instruction, the awardees will be honored during Classified School Employee Week in May.
“We’re lucky to have a lot of things at Osborn, but we’re really lucky to have Alicia caring for us every day,” said Ewing.
