By Marci McFadden, Chief of Communications
May 5, 2023
Every spring the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District honors employees years of service with a certificate of recognition and years of service pin to commemorate their commitment to the district, their school or department, and ultimately to the students and families on the peninsula.
Writer Annie Dillard in her book The Writing Life famously said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Most employees spend most of their waking hours at work. Research indicates the average person will spend approximately one-third of their life or 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years that employees have worked for their current employer is currently 4.1 years. This statistic, however, varies by age and occupation, and the median tenure for workers ages 25 to 34 years of age is 2.8 years.
We extend a heartfelt congratulations to 160 MPUSD employees who surpassed the median number of years at an organization and reached a milestone year in the school district - 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 45 years.
The years of service recognition program is fairly new and began five years ago. The criteria to calculate years of service is the employees start date with the cutoff date of June 30 each year. Each year in the month of June, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District honors employees years of service with a certificate of recognition and years of service pin to commemorate their commitment to the district, their school or department, and ultimately to the students and families on the peninsula.
Years of service awards or service awards celebrate the tenure of MPUSD employees who have worked with the district for a considerable amount of time beginning with recognizing the five year mark. It is an honor to commemorate the work anniversaries or years of services for MPUSD teachers and staff.
Join us in congratulating the following individuals who have committed to serving students and families in the communities of Marina, Monterey, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks and Sand City.
45 Years
Sandra Ashhurst, Office Support Clerk, Crumpton Elementary School
35 Years
Patricia Barnes, Program Secretary, Expanded Learning Opportunities
Janet Belardo, Teacher, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
David Swartz, Teacher, Monterey High
30 Years
Irma Diaz, Translator, Student Support Services
Toni Villagrana, Bilingual Assistant, Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula
25 Years
Joanne Behan, Teacher, Marina Vista Elementary School Arts Academy
Leslie Elmore, School Office Secretary, Marshall Elementary School
Cruz Fleming, School Office Secretary, Walter Colton Middle School
Martha Henry, Teacher, Independent Study
Bill Lueken, Teacher, Marshall Elementary School
Jennifer Lueken, Teacher Central Coast High School
Cathleen Main, Co-Principal, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
Joyce Mathers, Teacher, Crumpton Elementary School
Rita Myrick, Special Education Assistant, Monterey High School
20 Years
Robin Coyne, Teacher, Monterey High School
Anita Dutt, Teacher, Seaside Child Development Center
Sandra Gouley, Library Assistant, Olson Elementary School
Patricia Hernandez, Clerk III, Monterey Adult School
Debora Ogarrio, Community Liaison Leader, Student Support Services
Michael Royster, Teacher, Monterey High School
Thomas Shively, Teacher, Seaside Middle School
Jennifer Striegel, Teacher, Ord Terrace Elementary School
15 Years
Marci Albert, Supervisor Assistant, Olson Elementary School
Frank Aliotti, Teacher, Marshall Elementary School
Denise Alvarado, Bus Driver, Transportation
Erin Banik, Behavior Technician, Marina High School
Stephanie Boucher-Soderer, Registrar, Marina High School
Eric Carlson, Teacher Independent Study
Emily Catan, Special Education Assistant, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
Matthew Dechalk, Crafts Worker I, Maintenance
Socorro DeValdez, Nutrition Services Assistant, Nutritional Services
Karen Ehrhardt, Teacher, Olson Elementary School
Rosa Enriquez, Specialist, Community Day School
Samuel France, Special Day Class Teacher, Crumpton Elementary School
Teresa Garcia Mata, Health Assistant, Marina Child Development Center
Loyann Gardner, Nutrition Services Manager I, Nutritional Services
Sabrina Guevara, Special Education Assistant II, Adult Transition Program
Elizabeth Heff, Teacher, Independent Study
Cindy Hickey, Special Day Class Teacher, Olson Elementary School
Christina Kliewer, Academic Coach, Olson Elementary School
Shyla Lucas, Nutrition Services Manager I, Nutritional Services
Elizabeth McCloud, Teacher, La Mesa School
Amber McLarney, Special Assistant I, Monte Vista School
Juana Mendoza-Gonzalez, Account Clerk II, Student Support Services
Jennifer Miller, Bus Driver, Transportation
April Nellist, Teacher, Olson Elementary School
Tom Newton, Principal, Monterey High School
Veronica Raines, Special Education Assistant I, Seaside High School
Xavier Rodriguez, Assistant Principal, Monterey High School
Fran Ryder, Special Education Assistant I, La Mesa School
Rosemary Salazar, Analyst, Human Resources
Melanie Tanseco, Special Day Class Teacher, Crumpton Elementary School
Anthony Troia, Teacher, Independent Study
Elizabeth Woodbury, Library Assistant, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
10 Years
Eugenie Adams, Psychologist, Student Support Service
Yoseline Barragan, Office Support Clerk, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
Stephanie Marie Bemboom, Teacher, Ord Terrace Elementary
Lisa Blackwell Buckley, Teacher, La Mesa School
Amanda Bradley, Assistant Principal, Crumpton Elementary School
Patricia Bonanfant, Nutrition Services Assistant, Nutritional Services
Christopher Buckles, Behavior Technician, Marshall Elementary School
Cristina Campanaro, Principal, Marina Vista Elementary Arts Academy
Elizabeth Chagolla, Teacher, Marina Vista Elementary Arts Academy
Gimena Chavez, Special Education Assistant I, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
Ezequiel Contreras, Services Technician II, Technology
Hugo Cortez Hernandez, Teacher, Crumpton Elementary School
David Cruz Garcia, Crafts Worker I, Maintenance
Mariann D’Aquanno, School Office Secretary, Seaside Middle School
Kai Esaki, Teacher, Seaside High
Angelica Espinola-Romero, Teacher, Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula
Justin Frederick, Crafts Worker II, Maintenance
Alyssa Grainger, Teacher, Monterey High
Tana Guerrero, Special Education Assistant I, Seaside High School
Carolyn Jennings, Teacher, Seaside High School
Karen Karch, Resource Specialist Teacher, Central Coast High School
Zachary Lowell, Teacher, Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula
Amanda Macias, Behavior Technician, Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Carolina Marion, Community Liaison Leader, Crumpton Elementary School
Nellie Marrero, Community Liaison Leader, Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Benjamin Martinez, Teacher, Crumpton Elementary
Joyce Morrison, Secretary I, Monterey High School
Amelia Roque, Mental Health Therapist, Del Rey woods Elementary School
Sandra Rose, Nutrition Services Manager I, Nutritional Services
Delfina Sanchez, Special Education Assistant II, Marina Child Development Center
Yvette Sanchez, Special Education Assistant II, Seaside High School
Michelle Sorensen, Teacher, Seaside High School
Raycine Torres, Career Development Specialist, Adult Transitions Program
Vanessa Valdez, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Student Support Services
Susan Whitney, Library Assistant, Marshall Elementary School
5 Years
Alex Alvarez, Custodian, Facilities
Juan Pablo Avilez, Custodian, Facilities
Andrew Bieman, Program Leader II, Expanded Learning Opportunities
Stacey Biihler, Custodian, Facilities
Mindy Cano, Community Liaison Lead, Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula
Evelyn Caress, Student Activities Account Clerk, Seaside High School
Jermaine Carter, Behavior Technician, Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Jacqueline Chandra, Supervisor Assistant, Monte Vista School
Shelisha Clemons, Supervisor Assistant, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
Phyllis Clickard, Special Education Assistant I, Monte Vista School
Asusena Contreras, Analyst, Human Resources
Cecilia Diaz, Student Records Clerk, Seaside Middle School
Maura Dorado, Supervisor Assistant, Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Tim Dunn, Behavior Technician, Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Lauren Heflin, Occupational Therapist, Student Support Services
Arely Hernandez, Mental Health Therapist, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
Karissa Izaguirre, Special Education Assistant II, Ord Terrace Elementary School
Jesuphia Nguyen, Child Development Associate, Seaside Child Development Center
Jose Perez, Community Liaison Leader, Los Arboles Middle School
Rosa Ramirez-Aviles, Campus Monter, Walter Colton Middle School
Denise Smith, Bus Driver, Transportation
Nicole Aboujaoude, Teacher, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts
Jeffery Biihler, Custodian, Facilities
Jessica Boyce, Principal, Marina Child Development Center
Vanesa Cano, Teacher, Marina High School
Brook Carter, Teacher, Olson Elementary School
Sally Chopyk, Resource Specialist Teacher, Monterey High School
Allison Cresap, Teacher, La Mesa School
Lynn Ebora, Principal, Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Max Feldman, Teacher, Monterey High School
Anthony Golden, Behavior Technician, Marina Vista Elementary Arts Academy
Julie Gonzales, School Office Secretary, Monterey High School
Maryela Gonzalez, Office Clerk/Aide, Marina Child Development Center
Bridget Henmi, Special Day Class Teacher, Marina Child Development Center
Brady Hollis, Teacher, Seaside High School
Angel Hostetter, Accelerated Learning Specialist, Crumpton Elementary School
Maribel Ibarra, School Office Secretary, Del Rey Woods Elementary
Derrick Jasso, Teacher, Seaside High School
Amanda Kennedy, Teacher on Special Assignment, Educational Services
Mehry Khazan, Mental Health Therapist, Walter Colton Middle School
Kalyn Lee, Teacher, Seaside High School
Elyssa Lucero, Behavior Technician, Olson Elementary School
Angelica Macias Infante, Nutrition Services Manager II, Nutritional Services
Gabriela Maldonado, OFfice Support Clerk, Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Fatima Mejia, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Student Support Services
Veronica Mejia, Site Director, Expanded Learning Opportunities
Jaime Mendez Hernandez, Supervisor Assistant, Monte Vista School
Maria Murillo, Accelerated Learning Specialist, Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula
Jason Neves, Teacher, Monterey High School
Bonnie O’Brien, Supervisor Assistant, Monte Vista School
Kimberley Peake, Teacher, Seaside High School
Sam Pereira, Assistant Principal, Central Coast High School
Lyndsay Pina, Teacher, Monte Vista School
Mary Riedl, Teacher, Monte Vista School
Leila Sellami, Accelerated Learning Specialist, Marina Vista Elementary School
Katherine Su, Occupational Therapist, Student Support Services
Joseph Summers, Teacher, Central Coast High School
Harvey Todd, Custodian, Facilities
Meghan Torres, Day Lead Custodian, Monterey Adult School
Jordan Unfried, Counselor, Seaside High School
Susana Valderrama, Teacher, Monterey High School
Michael Villagrana, Site Director, Expanded Learning Opportunities
Deepika Weerasekera, Instructional Assistant, Ord Terrace Elementary School
Rory Wood, Teacher, Marina Vista Elementary Arts Academy
Karin Zandakis, Teacher, Olson Elementary School
Michelle Zaragoza, Teacher, Monterey High School