A Firebaugh High School employee was honored along with two other individuals by the Fresno County Office of Education for their work in the county’s ROP/CTE program.
Juanita Gonzalez was named as the ROP Classified Employee of the Year.
“Juanita is an awesome lady and an exceptional employee,” said Firebaugh High principal Anthony Catalin. “She is always willing to go the extra mile for our students. This award is well-deserved.”
Gonzalez was born in Mexico and migrated to this country when she was one year old. Her family settled in Firebaugh and she is an FHS graduate.
She started working for the school district in 1987 at Mills Elementary as an ESL teacher’s aide. She also worked at Firebaugh Middle School before moving to the high school in 2000 as an attendance clerk.
“My duties are like a receptionist, but my main duties are reporting and compiling attendance reports to submit to the district office,” she explained.
As the school’s ROP/CTE clerk, Gonzalez plays a big part by organizing and submitting regular reports to the FCOE office.
She also organizes local events, assists in planning trips, inputs data, fields questions about the various school programs, and supports the school’s administrators.
“The best part of my job is working with my school family and students,” said Gonzalez. “I have the blessed opportunity to observe students and new staff members grow and develop.”
She said that the award was a great surprise.
“I truly have no words to express my surprise,” she said. “I am very grateful for receiving this award, as well for the support I have received from the ROP/CTE county staff. I am also grateful to Mr. Catalin and our ROP/CTE high school family.”
Also honored by FCOE was Courtney Avery of Central East High School as well as Delbert Cederquist, who served 65 years on the FCOE School Board.
