Natomas Unified “Classified Employee of the Year” Shannon Silvey and six divisional winners were honored with plaques by the Board of Trustees at its meeting Wednesday, Feb. 11. Winners were nominated by peers or supervisors for demonstrating caring, responsive service that contributes to NUSD’s growth and success. Besides, Silvey, the honorees were:
- Dwayne Bishop, Support Services and Security
- Charlene Cottam . Office and Technical
- Maria Diaz, Para-Educator and Instructional Assistance
- Latricia Thompson, Child Nutrition
- Joaquin Torres, Maintenance, Operations and Facilities
- Elisha Hatchett, Transportation
Doug Orr, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, introduced each winner to the Board and praised them, as follows:
Dwayne Bishop: “Mr. Bishop is a Campus Safety Specialist at Inderkum High School who has worked for the District since 2013. Mr. Bishop diligently monitors the campus at Inderkum High School and his caring attitude and actions have earned him the respect and trust of the school’s community. Mr. Bishop is described as having a passion for mentoring struggling students, and he has worked closely with many of those students and their families to connect them with the school in a positive manner.”
Charlene Cottam: “Ms. Cottam is a Payroll/Benefits Technician in the Education Center who has worked for the District since 2012. Ms. Cottam is described as being a joy to work with. As a Payroll/Benefits Technician she is in a very fast-paced and high-pressure position and is extremely conscientious about her job and always willing to help problem solve or answer questions when they arise. Even with the constant deadlines and frequent interruptions, Ms. Cottam always greets people with a smile – whether in person or on the phone.”
Maria Diaz: “Ms. Dias is an Instructional Assistant II at H. Allen Hight Elementary School who has worked for the District since 2002. Ms. Diaz is described as patient, understanding, compassionate and a team player who plays a large part in the success of our students. Ms. Diaz has a smile on her face each day and handles each student with grace, giving gentle words of encouragement. She’s always there with a steady hand to help guide them to independence.”
Latricia Thompson: “Ms. Thompson is a Food Services Assistant at Witter Ranch Elementary who has worked for the District since 2006. Ms. Thompson has grown and flourished as a leader in Nutrition Services in the past year. She takes pride in her work, truly cares about the students and has a desire to make sure she is completing the task correctly. She is described as the strong and silent type who is unwavering in her standards for the food and customer service she provides. We appreciate Ms. Thompson’s commitment to our students by providing the necessary meal requirements.”
Joaquin Torres: “Mr. Torres is a custodian at Bannon Creek School who has worked for the District since 1990. With Mr. Torres’ 24 years of experience at Bannon Creek School, he is a valuable asset who will do anything to help and support students and families. Mr. Torres is described as a flexible employee who is always helpful toward other employees and always willing to lend a helping hand.”
Elisha Hatchett: “Ms. Hatchett is a Dispatcher/Bus Driver in the Transportation Department who has worked for the District since 2007. Ms. Hatchett is described as a great asset to the Transportation Department who is reliable and comes to work every day with a great attitude, a smile on her face and a friendly personality. Ms. Hatchett’s extensive knowledge of the area, the students we transport and our bus routes has been invaluable to the department this year. “
Shannon Silvey: “Ms. Silvey is a School Secretary at Heron School who has worked for the District since 2008. Ms. Silvey is described as friendly with a positive nature that makes everyone feel welcome. She is also incredibly efficient in her job by being able to effectively manage the demands of a busy school office while maintaining her focus on serving our community. Earlier this year, there was a Heron parent who required immediate medical attention. Ms. Silvey ran to aid the parent, quickly assessed that the parent was not breathing, and immediately began chest compression. Ms. Silvey’s efforts proved to be lifesaving. Ms. Silvey exemplifies the care and commitment we expect from all employees.”
