The Conejo Valley Unified School District is proud to recognize the following Classified Employees for their outstanding contributions above and beyond their call of duty. These dedicated individuals make an invaluable impact on their respective school campuses. They are problem-solvers, and take initiative to ensure their daily actions support and positively impact their colleagues, along with the students and families the District proudly serves.
These recognitions follow the District’s celebration of Classified School Employee Week, which took place from May 21-26, 2023. These individuals were chosen from more than 50 nominations received by the District.
The recipients of the 2022-2023 Classified Employee Outstanding Achievement Award are:
-
Valerie Barlev, Office Assistant III, Westlake High School
-
Michael Bunde, Maintenance Electrician, M&O Dept
-
Scott Diaz, Site Computer Technician II, Sycamore Canyon School
-
Cristy Feistel, Paraeducator I, Westlake Elementary
-
Evan Julian, Custodian, Los Cerritos Middle School
-
Rose Lockwood, Health Clerk, Aspen Elementary
-
Shannon Munhall, Child Nutrition Assistant-Satellite, Weathersfield Elementary
-
Irene Nelson, School Office Manager I, Westlake Hills Elementary
-
Nancy Osaki, Paraeducator/Classroom Assistant, Wildwood Elementary
-
Harriet Osinski, Registrar, Newbury Park High School
-
Joe Rodriguez, Campus Safety Assistant, Walnut Elementary
-
Lucy Smith, Speech Language Pathology Assistant
Learn more about each awardee (information below is from the nominations submitted for each awardee):
Valerie Barlev, Office Assistant III, Westlake High School
-
Valerie deeply cares about students. She takes the time to get to know the students as well as to talk to the families. Valerie's communication and facilitation of IEP's has been unparalleled. She does a phenomenal job of taking into account teacher's prep periods and how many IEPs they have attended.
Michael Bunde, Maintenance Electrician, M&O Dept
-
Mike is an outstanding coworker and friend. He is a huge asset to the Maintenance and Operations Department and is so deserving of this award and recognition. Mike is the lead electrician on our team. He is directly responsible for duties including general maintenance and new electrical projects. Mike has unparalleled knowledge of his craft. He seems to be a walking encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to school facility maintenance. He loves to share his knowledge with anyone who will listen. Mike has consistently met established project deadlines and milestones day in and day out. Mike's customer service skills are exemplary. He is extremely friendly, always arrives with a smile on his face, and a happy greeting for his co-workers. Although Mike is responsible for his own daily task, he can often be found assisting other co-workers with their tasks. Mike also has the ability to communicate effectively with all of his co-workers, from the director to the many students at all the schools.
Scott Diaz, Site Computer Technician II, Sycamore Canyon School
-
Scott Diaz works above and beyond to troubleshoot any and all technology issues for teachers and students. He is never too busy to put aside the magnitude of work he does to meet the demands of all students. From replacing a broken key on a Chromebook’s keyboard to navigating tech issues remotely, he is there for us. Not to mention his ability to set up and establish new devices throughout the school in record time.
Cristy Feistel, Paraeducator I, Westlake Elementary
-
Cristy is the most kind, compassionate, and helpful human. She has been a dedicated aide for the same student from TK through 5th grade. Her helpful hand does not only extend to this student, but to all of the students in the class and beyond. Anytime a student raises their hand she is immediately making her way toward them to help them. After school she helps with childcare and creates a warm welcoming environment for all grade levels. Students miss her on the days she is not here, they have a profound respect for her, and they all know she is there for them when they need them. Cristy is not only an exemplary member of our staff but an exemplary mother and human, too. Cristy deserves to be recognized because any conversation she strikes up, or any student that approaches her, all leave in a better place than they were in, and that is because of her. Thank you Cristy, for all you do not just in the classroom, but for all of Westlake Elementary!
Evan Julian, Custodian, Los Cerritos Middle School
-
Evan Julian goes above and beyond with helping the students and staff at Los Cerritos Middle School. Every request that is made, he completes as soon as possible with quality and care. Daily, he has a positive attitude. During the week, staff and students find him working hard on projects but ready to smile and wave or open a door, especially if teachers have their hands full. He is always trying to make our school clean and productive. For example, at the beginning of each school year he touches base with teachers to see if all of our furniture is where it needs to be, and if there is anything that needs to be changed, he is sure to accomplish it quickly. He is such a valuable team member to the community here at Los Cerritos and we are all extremely thankful that he is a part of the school.
Rose Lockwood, Health Clerk, Aspen Elementary
-
Rose is an incredible asset to our Aspen community. Since joining our Aspen family, she has approached her role as our Health Clerk with compassion, kindness, and wit. Our students love to check in with Ms. Rose even when all is well. She's always up for helping out in any capacity she can...the past two years she has also been helping to run the ELOP Teams after school program. We are all very thankful to have Rose here!
Shannon Munhall, Child Nutrition Assistant-Satellite, Weathersfield Elementary
-
Shannon is an outstanding cafeteria employee for our school. She is amazing to work with and an excellent example to our students. She has the best heart and makes sure our cafeteria runs at the highest standards. Everyone loves Shannon. Her hard work is appreciated and we are blessed that she chose to work at Weathersfield!
Irene Nelson, School Office Manager I, Westlake Hills Elementary
-
Besides being a clerical mastermind and organizational guru, Irene is a born multi-tasker in the front office. At any given time, she “juggles” many chores with the greatest of ease. She constantly is aware of what “pots” she has on the fire and the status of each. And despite having so many tasks to focus on, she always has time to address any inquiries or requests that the staff brings to her at any given moment. Whenever staff comes to her with a question or need, she always gives them her full attention. Irene never fails to be immediately responsive to our staff’s needs. That support that she provides to our staff is crucial to our success. Creating a warm and festive atmosphere in the workplace is definitely a strength for Irene. She understands how important that can be for the well-being and camaraderie of a school’s staff. It is not unusual for colorful streamers, decorations and signs to adorn the school office and staff room in celebration for an upcoming holiday. And once one holiday arrives, the next holiday is equally represented the very next day. Irene makes sure that everyone around her feels important, and that is also seen in how she interacts with the public. Parents and others who come in to seek help are always met with a smile, a friendly greeting and the assurance that they will be heard and provided with solutions. She is a perfect representative for Westlake Hills. With seemingly endless energy, Irene does not hesitate to serve beyond her original job responsibilities and to assist wherever she is needed. She demonstrates to all of us that we are a team, and in order for us to be strong, we need to help out wherever we can. She is an individual of great strength and perseverance. Her admirable qualities are plentiful, and we, as a staff, are extremely lucky to have her here at Westlake Hills.
Nancy Osaki, Paraeducator/Classroom Assistant, Wildwood Elementary
-
Nancy is a dedicated member of our school community. In her current role, she has become an invaluable asset to our school community. Nancy is loved by staff and is known for taking the time to get to know each student and their likes. She knows each student by name, and takes time to talk to the students on campus. Her positive attitude and willingness to help others are contagious, and she is always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needs it. What sets Nancy apart is her trustworthiness. She consistently demonstrates integrity and reliability, and everyone knows they can count on her. Her attention to detail and ability to follow through on tasks make her an excellent team player and ensure that our school runs smoothly.In addition to her excellent work ethic, Nancy is also deeply committed to her job. She takes pride in her work and is always looking for ways to improve her skills and knowledge. She is a lifelong learner and constantly seeks out new opportunities to grow and develop. She truly cares about each individual on our campus, and any person that comes in contact with her smiles. Overall, Nancy is a true asset to our school community. Her positive attitude, dedication, and trustworthiness make her an outstanding candidate for the Outstanding Achievement Award.
Harriet Osinski, Registrar, Newbury Park High School
-
Harriet goes above and beyond to get students enrolled and registered at NPHS. She has one of the most important jobs on campus but goes without much recognition. As education evolves, a lot more is put on her and she is responsible for so much. More and more, students are taking advantage of courses offered through community colleges and summer courses at different charter schools. She is responsible for collecting, sorting, and inputting hundreds of online/off-campus classes on students' transcripts, in addition to a million other things put on her plate. She never seems fazed by the amount of work she has to do. She is meticulous, knowledgeable, PATIENT, and always willing to help our staff, students, and parents with a smile on her face. She should be recognized for her outstanding achievement and dedication. As registrar for Newbury Park High School, she greets new families completing paperwork with a smile! Harriet goes above and beyond her duties. She spends countless hours making sure records are complete and accurate far beyond her work day. She is supportive of all departments and is always willing to help others. Harriet is an asset to our school.
Joe Rodriguez, Campus Safety Assistant, Walnut Elementary
-
Joe is not only an outstanding CSA, always there for the students and goes the extra mile to make them feel loved, supported, and encouraged. He is also a fantastic human being and co-worker. His happy and positive spirit is infectious, adults and children alike can't help but smile after having an interaction with him. Joe was a former professional soccer player and is a current club soccer coach. Coach Joe came to us with an extensive amount of youth coaching experience. He consistently displays positivity and encouragement to all our little Wildcats. He takes time to get to know each student, to understand their individual needs, strengths, and struggles. Each day he organizes soccer games with the students, teaching them not only the game and rules of soccer, but most importantly teamwork, collaboration, and healthy strategies for lasting friendships. Joe models an incredible amount of pride and commitment to his work here at Walnut. He is kind, positive, and always smiling. Joe is such an asset to the Walnut staff, willing to help out in any way he can, always saying “How can I help.” Joe is a champion for all students! He understands the power of connection, and models to students to be the BEST that they can be, on the field and in the classroom!
Lucy Smith, Speech Language Pathology Assistant
-
Mrs. Smith has been a faithful employee for CVUSD for 25 years, 23 of which have been in special education. She is dedicated, going above and beyond for our students, and truly has a heart of gold. She makes genuine connections with families, and her students always look forward to therapy sessions with her. She participates in bilingual speech and language assessments alongside speech therapists, and willingly helps with any other school needs. Mrs. Smith is an outstanding colleague and has been committed to our children throughout her career - recognition of her has been long overdue!
The Board of Education will recognize the award recipients on June 7th at 6pm at their regular BoardMeeting, at Conejo Valley High School – Board Room. We thank this year's awardees for their invaluable contributions and congratulate them on being selected as 2022-2023 Classified Employee Outstanding Achievement Awardees!
