NHUSD Honors Employees of the Year

Despite Measure B falling short last week, staff still had plenty to celebrate.

The district showed its appreciation for its classified staff and teachers during last week’s school board meeting, recognizing each site’s Classified Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year.

“Teaching is not for sissies, teaching is for heroes,” NHUSD Superintendent Kari McVeigh said. “Thanks for being our heroes.”

Julie Panebianco, an English teacher and leader of the at , and Joan Wolfe, secretary at , received the highest honors and were recognized as Teacher of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year for the entire district.

“I think we have the best teaching staff around, so the teachers selected tonight are the best of the best. Julie, that makes you the best of the best of the best,” said school board trustee Kevin Harper.

Panebianco, a teacher for seven years, said she started her professional career in the business sector. But after spending her free time volunteering with homeless youth, she found a passion for teaching and returned to school to earn a credential. “It was the best decision I ever made,” she said.

Now Panebianco leads one of the most successful programs in the Puente Project, a statewide program that offers academic and college preparation for educationally disadvantaged students.

Not only does Panebianco help her students with their college applications, she takes them on college tours and helps their families find ways to make college affordable.

She also devotes efforts to fundraising for the program and is an integral part of Logan's literacy team.

“I’m completely humbled, honored and shocked,” Panebianco said after receiving her reward. “I wasn’t expecting this at all. I know I work hard, but everyone works hard.”

Wolfe, the Classified Employee of the Year, assists in the daily operations at Searles. But her colleagues say she’s more than a secretary, she’s a helping hand.

“She supports students by being a bud buddy,” said one colleague. “She is a cheerleader and a secretary rolled into one smiling package.”

When it came time for school board members to make their remarks, Logan student representative Ly Ho began to cry.

“I’ve made a connection with every teacher,” Ho said. “You guys are our moms and dads … I hope to one day be in the seats you are in today, making our kids better, making our district one of the best.”

The Teachers of the Year from each site were:

• Maureen Tecson (Alvarado Elementary School)
• Paul Nay (Eastin Elementary)
• Nancy McDonough (Emanuele Elementary)
• Valerie Rose-Piver (Hillview Crest Elementary)
• Blake Chong (Kitayama Elementary)
• Colleen Conley (Pioneer Elemeentary)
• Janina Melgarejo Carman (Searles Elementary)
• Jennifer Nemecek (Alvarado Middle School)
• Fernando Buchner (Cesar Chavez Middle School)
• Sharyl Larson (Conley-Caraballo High School)
• Kristina Burnett (New Haven Adult School)
• Donna McCaffery (Cabello Student Support Center).

 Classified Employees of the Year for each site:

• Betty Silva (Alvarado Elementary)
• Suruj Lal (Eastin)
• Julie Busbee (Emanuele)
• Sally Velazquez (Hillview Crest)
• Rosalie Hernandez (Kitayama)
• Karina Aguirre (Pioneer)
• Tanya Leno (Alvarado Middle)
• Angela Moreno (Cesar Chavez)
• Neeru Kapoor (James Logan)
• Martha Utley (Conley-Caraballo)
• Esther Soto (New Haven Adult)
• Kelly Munoz (Educational Services Center)
• Robert Vegas (Cabello Student Support Center)
• Bernard Abarca (Corporation Yard)
• Manuela Munoz (Food Services)