San Diego County School Advisor Named CA Classified School Employee Of The Year

OCEANSIDE, CA — A San Diego County school community advisor was named one of the California Classified School Employees of the Year, the California Department of Education announced Tuesday.

Maria "Lisa" Lopez was honored as the California Classified School Employee of the Year in the Clerical and Administrative Services category. She has served as school community advisor at Oceanside Unified School District's César Chávez Middle School for nine years.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recognized Lopez and eight other classified school employees for their dedication to California's public school students.

"Our classified employees are the ones who make sure that kids have healthy meals, who keep our campuses clean and safe, and who lend a sympathetic ear to students during some of the most difficult times in their lives," Thurmond said in a statement.

As school community advisor, Lopez serves as an advocate for families. She tries to see the request behind every complaint, looking for ways to improve systems to benefit families, according to the San Diego County Office of Education.

During the 2023–24 school year, Lopez partnered with the new César Chávez assistant principal to increase family engagement and trust on issues related to student support and discipline. They heard families voice concerns about the lack of communication on these topics and worked together to call every family when a student was in the office for any reason.

This year's recipients were chosen from 135 nominations statewide. The 2025 award winners will be honored by Thurmond at a luncheon on May 22 in Sacramento.

"It's an incredible honor to spotlight these outstanding employees, and the significant impact they make on our students, schools, districts, and their communities," Thurmond said. "They make a huge difference, and our students will remember them for years to come."

Along with Lopez, the San Diego County finalists for County Classified School Employee of the Year were:

• Information Technology: Lenny D'Angelo (countywide winner), Grossmont Union High School District
• Custodial and Maintenance Services: Michelle Loibl, Cajon Valley Union School District
• Paraprofessional Services: Kathia Lopez, San Diego County Office of Education
• Security Services: Terry Williams, San Ysidro School District
• Skilled Trade Services: Moises Mayoral, South Bay Union School District

"It's important that we pause to recognize and thank these hard-working employees who keep things running smoothly at school sites and administrative offices," San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza said in a statement. "I appreciate the passion and expertise they bring to help our students thrive."