USD Hosts Annual Employee Recognition Event: Years of Service Awards, Employees of the Year, and Celebrating our Retirees

This past month, during the USD Week of the Employee, USD also hosted its annual Employee Recognition Event on May 17th to honor and celebrate our phenomenal Team USD. We recognized individuals for their dedication and commitment to the students, staff and families in Union School District. Once again thank you to the over 600 USD team members that make USD a special place for our students, families and community.  

We are wishing a bittersweet farewell to nine USD team members who have retired or will be retiring at the end of the school year. Our retirees are a dedicated group of individuals, and while we are all sad to see them leave, they will always be a part of our USD Community, and we wish them all the best in retirement. Best wishes to our 2023 retirees! Pictured: Gary Warnes, Sally Borello, Rita Sohal, and George Castro; Not pictured: Janeil Baker, Luciano Coelho, Sue Masterson, Nancy Smith, Carol Zafiropoulos

Congratulations to our 2022-23 Classified Employees and Teachers of the Year! Alta Vista: Brenda Garcia & Liz Werner Carlton: Melissa Smith & Tashina Hernandez Dartmouth: Adriana Salamat & Rhona McFadyen Guadalupe: Yuan Wang & Theresa Hull Lietz: Linda Lenz & Jeannine Burriss/Sheila Saunders Noddin: Sam Reyes & Kiersten Dahlquist Oster: Michele Testa & Gaylene McGowan Union: Nora Wu & Anna Fraboni Maintenance & Operations: Simon Pliego District Office: Diane Nunes

Melissa Smith is USD's Classified Employee of the Year for 2022-23! As Carlton Elementary's Health Aide, Melissa Smith not only supports the health and wellness of the students and staff, but also handles the attendance, tardies, answering phones, running items to classrooms, and supporting student needs on field trips. Many kids visit Melissa daily, just for a hug, and to see their favorite person. Melissa’s tremendous support of students, staff, and families is appreciated by all at Carlton.

Rhona McFadyen is USD's Teacher of the Year for 2022-23! Her fellow staff have described Rhona McFadyen as creative, organized & passionate. Rhona has been a core member of the 8th grade team for the past decade as a US History teacher, as well as the lead choreographer for the Dartmouth Drama department. You’ll often find her dancing her way to yard duty, meetings, and even in her classroom.