Natomas High prepared her for a career — at Natomas Unified

--- Published on October 22nd 2015 ---
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It’s a good thing that Natomas High School prepared La Sandra Elliott well for life beyond high school:  She now works for NUSD.

The former Nighthawk, Class of 2003, was hired this month as an office specialist III in NUSD’s Financial Services Department, where she handles tasks ranging from drafting memos to planning meetings.

 Before joining Natomas Unified’s Ed Center, she earned her AA Degree at Sacramento City College and worked full-time for the state Department of Motor Vehicles, five years, and for the state Department of Water Resources, three years.

“When you’re younger, you think that everything is hard,” she said of her days at Natomas High. “But once I got out into the real world, it was easy, so I was definitely prepared.”

Working for Natomas Unified is “perfect for me,” Elliott said, because she was born and raised in Natomas. She describes the community as centrally located – a short drive from downtown Sacramento, Tahoe or San Francisco – and as reasonably priced and “up and coming,” with a bright future.

“I think it’s awesome,” she said. “I really am a fan of Natomas. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

Elliott, a former Nighthawk volleyball player, continues to play some pickup or recreation games. She does not actively follow professional sports but supports the Sacramento Kings and the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. In her spare time, she likes socializing with friends, figuring out new places to go in Sacramento, and perhaps attending a free concert somewhere.

Asked to describe herself, Elliott said: “Very friendly. Anywhere I go, I’ve always managed to make friends … I feel like I’m a nice, genuine, caring person. I’m funny and I love to laugh during the day. It makes the day go by faster. And I really value the friendships that I make in the workplace.”

Some of her favorite Natomas High employees when she was attending school continue to work locally, she said – John Eick, now executive director of Westlake Charter School; Scott Pitts, now assistant principal at Inderkum High; and NUSD teachers Barbra Ruth and Chad Geary, for example.

In her Ed Center job, she’ll run across NUSD names that ring a bell from her school days, more than a decade ago.

“I think that’s kind of cool,” Elliott said, smiling.