This week Pierce Joint Unified wishes to shine the spotlight on our paraeducators and campus supervisors for the work they have done during this pandemic. These employees have been extremely flexible during this unprecedented time. When schools were closed and students were distance learning at the beginning of the year, these employees made it possible to serve small groups of students on all four campuses in the district. They were in-person at the school sites supervising cohorts of students. Safety protocols were in place and followed judiciously by the paraeducators and campus supervisors to avoid illness for themselves and the students they were serving. As schools began to reopen for any students wanting to return to campus, their roles changed again. Paraeducators were assigned to kindergarten classrooms to support students during the school day. After school program paraeducators were part of this during the regular school day support. Once the regular day ended they transitioned to supporting students in their after school program. Campus supervisors went back to their typical duties such as crossing guards and playground supervisors. During school closure some of them had been part of the lunch delivery program. The playground supervision role changed a bit because the employees were now having to remind students to keep their masks on, distance from one another, and stay in their own ‘zones’ on the playground. Cleaning and disinfecting was part of the work for them as well. It is with extreme gratitude that the district recognizes these paraeducators and campus supervisors for doing whatever it took to serve the students within the district in a safe manner during trying times. The district appreciates your dedication and desire to serve!