Eureka (May 16, 2025) – Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) is proud to honor Classified School Employees during the week of May 19. This annual celebration marks the hard work of school employees who make a difference in the lives of students and families every day through their tireless support of schools.
The California Department of Education’s recognition program includes nine categories of Classified Employees: Clerical and Administrative Services; Custodial and Maintenance Services; Food and Nutrition Services; Health and Student Services; Paraprofessional Services; Security Services; Skilled Trades Services; Technical Services; and Transportation Services.
Humboldt County Superintendents and Charter Directors nominated their Classified staff members for County recognition. Five employees were honored with the County Classified Employees of the year and their applications were sent to the California Department of Education for consideration as the California State Classified Employee of the Year:
- Dave Avelar, Custodial and Maintenance Services, McKinleyville High School
- Petra Wilhite, Clerical and Administrative Services, Arcata Elementary School
- Lisa Broadstock, Paraprofessional, Scotia Elementary School
- Danielle Johns, Food and Nutrition Services, Eureka City Schools
- Erik Fraser, Technical Services, HCOE
They received recognition at the Classified Employee Breakfast on May 8 held at the Sequoia Conference Center, in collaboration with the Humboldt Chapter of Association California School Administrators (ACSA). Fifty-nine classified employees were honored by county school administrators and charter directors that morning.
“Now more than ever, your work has never been more vital,” said Michael Davies-Hughes, Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools. “Our schools are facing complex challenges – recovery from learning loss, staffing gaps, mental health concerns, and more. But we are meeting these challenges not as isolated individuals, but as a team-and classified staff are at the heart of that effort. You are not ‘behind the scenes’; you are the scene. You create the environment where learning happens.”
The awards were engraved cutting boards made by Alder Grove and Northern United Charter Career Technical Education (CTE) students, Ian Hall CTE teacher. The flowers were arranged by Eureka High School Floral Agriculture students, Kara Forbes AG teacher.
For more information, please visit https://hcoe.org/csey or contact Stacy Young, Community Outreach and Engagement Director, HCOE outreach@hcoe.org or 707-445-7024.