Administrators shadow classified employees during 2011 ACE Program

6/13/11

For just a couple hours, school district administrators and trustees witnessed first-hand just how much classified employees contribute to public education. Eleven chapters statewide participated in the Appreciating Appreciating Classified Employees (ACE) program last month. The ACE Program is a job shadowing program, held during Classified School Employees Week, during which district administrators and elected officials work hand-in-hand with classified employees to better understand their duties and responsibilities.

The 11 chapters that participated this year were: Jefferson Elementary Chapter 233, San Jose /Evergreen Colleges Chapter 363, Antelope Valley Chapter 612, Turlock Unified Chapter 56, Rialto Chapter 203, Mt. San Antonio College Chapter 262, Huntington Beach High Chapter 157, Santa Paula High Chapter 357, Sweetwater Operations Chapter 258, Sweetwater High Chapter 471 and Sweetwater Paraprofessionals Chapter 731.

During the ACE program, school district administrators and trustees have a chance to “walk a mile” in classified employees’ shoes. The primary goal of the ACE program is to celebrate and call attention to the contributions of classified school employees through “job shadowing,” during which school district administrators observe first-hand and participate in the work and responsibilities of classified employees. In the program, superintendents and other administrators shadow food service workers, groundskeepers, bus drivers, paraeducators, mechanics, secretaries and other classified employees to gain a better understanding of their daily world.

The ACE program started during Classified School Employee Week in May 2007 as a way to recognize the work of classified employees and promote understanding between district staff and administration. More than 50 chapters statewide have participated in the program since its inception.