Kathy
Tooms
YHS’s
‘Classified employee of year’
Kathy Tooms
at the computer where keeps track of students as registrar for the alternative
high schools. She enjoys the variety her duties provide.
Kathy Tooms, the Yosemite Joint
Union High School District alternative education secretary / registrar, has
been named the YJUHSD Classified Employee of the Year by her peers.
Each year, district staff members
are asked to nominate a person for Classified Employee of the Year and Teacher
of the Year. From these nominations, a team of staff members selects the
recipients.
Mrs. Tooms has been a district
employee for eight years. In addition to her alternative education duties, she
works in the district business office a portion of each day.
In nominating Mrs. Tooms for the
honor, the alternative education staff members wrote: “We believe Kathy has one
of the most demanding positions in the district. She alone shoulders the burden
of secretary and registrar for five alternative high schools, each with its
separate student body and its own special needs.”
While Mrs. Tooms’ job is
demanding, she thoroughly enjoys it and she says when she retires a lot of
people should want the position, “because I get to work with so many different
people.”
Mrs. Tooms works with the
Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department, district staff, parents, the alternative
staff (“I call them family”), and her favorite part of all, with the students.
“I just love working with the
students,” she says, adding that it is the best part of the job.
She enjoys the hours she spends in
the district business office as well. “This gives me an opportunity to see the
other side of education,” she says, noting that it takes a lot of work to keep
the business aspect of the district running smoothly.
Prior to coming to the YJUHSD full
time in November 1994 she had worked as a graphic artist at the Fresno County
Office of Education for 19 years. Student contact was not a part of that job so
she is especially glad to be in a position where she interacts with students.
In addition to her “official” duties for the district,
Mrs. Tooms spends several hours of her own time helping the alternative
education students produce their yearly publication of art and literary work.
Drawing on her graphic design
background, Mrs. Tooms mentors the student editor each year, helping with
computer applications, scanning and binding the booklets.
Mrs. Tooms assists with the
planning and implementation of all aspects of the alternative education
graduation. The alternative education staff noted in its nomination: “Kathy has
even been known to pay student book fines from her own pocket on graduation
night so that a senior could take home his/her diploma that night. She takes as
much pride in our graduates as we do.”
Another nomination letter for Mrs.
Tooms noted that “She has been a quiet but vital part of our district for many
years.” The nomination also addressed the way in which she treats all students,
“with respect and care.”
Mrs. Tooms first started working
for the YJUHSD in October 1993 as a part-time assistant in the Adult Education
office during the evening. After working all day in Fresno, she would drive to
Oakhurst for her second job.
She and her husband, Eric, live in Wishon. Their daughter,
Erin, is a student at Fresno State University where she is an award-winning
member of the equestrian team.
Mrs. Tooms says she feels that she
is really the winner in working for the YJUHSD. “It’s a great place to work,”
she believes.