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Abigail Amador proudly serves as a middle school campus supervisor …and a community connector.

As a classified ambassador, the Mission Middle School staff member works to inform and engage students and families in myriad ways.

“I think classified ambassadors such as myself help to further the district’s mission and the vision that we have because we are able to reach out differently with some of the parents and …community members,” she said. “We are a face …that they see on the regular. They’re used to our presence. We are able to build good relations with them. Being an extra voice from the district to our parents and to members of the community, I think that’s really important,” she said.

Classified ambassadors are in place at every JUSD school site. The unique program – developed in collaboration with the Classified School Employees Association (CSEA) – provides a way to improve communication and understanding with the community while also allowing classified employees to build leadership skills. 

“They’re very connected to the students, the staff, the community,” said Denise Hernandez, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

Having a designated, trusted person at each site who can help families find accurate information about programs, resources, or even questions about school processes is important, Ms. Hernandez said. 

“We believe that will then result in better communication, better relationships, and more engagement with the district and our staff, students and community,” she said.

CSEA Chapter 392 President Paul Hopson said the program allows classified employees to learn, network, and contribute in meaningful ways.

“I think it’s an amazing program,” Mr. Hopson said. “It gives our folks a chance to connect with other sites, to network. Oftentimes in a district, you only know the site that you work at.” 

Del Sol Academy Classified Ambassador Xochilt Cardenas saw the power of her role when she worked to help a family who lost their home in a fire. She was able to connect the family with resources offered through the district’s Parent Involvement and Community Outreach (P.I.C.O.) department and also helped organize staff donations.

​“I like that we are helping our students. We’re helping them be heard. We’re helping them know that hey, JUSD is here for you,” she said. “If (we) as ambassadors know and have the knowledge (of) where we need to go, we’re able to stream that information to our students and families.”

The program also helps hardworking classified team members to feel valued, Mr. Hopson said.

“I believe it gives our classified team members a voice. They know they’re heard,” he said.

“It feels good to be a classified employee knowing that there’s these opportunities to grow professionally and as a member of the district to be able to engage with the community,” Ms. Amador said. “It makes me feel appreciated. It lets us know that they truly do want to improve the district.”

Ms. Amador also likes knowing she is making a difference.  She remembers a parent who was experiencing some personal struggles. She was able to connect her with resources and also to help her find employment in the district. She has helped other parents to become more involved in their childrens’ school through volunteering. And, she loves helping with promotions and graduations to see the culmination of the school experience. 

“This is giving me an opportunity to engage with our families, engage with our community…It’s a chance for us to have a positive connection with our families and our students.” 

That heart and sense of duty set classified ambassadors apart.

“I meet with them regularly through the year and it is such a joy because these are individuals who have naturally been very committed to their school site, to the students, to the staff, to the families and this highlights them,” Ms. Hernandez said. “It provides them with a position…that identifies all the good things that they have been doing and provides them with an opportunity to further that engagement with substantial information that will affect and benefit everyone.”

“In the future, I see us maintaining the classified ambassador program,” Ms. Hernandez said.  “Jurupa Unified School District is very committed to making sure that that is still in place because we have seen such growth in engagement and trust amongst our educational partners because of them.”