Showcasing three classified employees who make learning without limits possible for JUSD students.
Teresa Armbruster - Health Care Aide, Peralta Elementary
A typical day for Teresa Armrbuster once meant seeing twenty students with ailments ranging from scraped knees to stomach aches to the rare broken bone. Now, the Health Care Aide begins her day checking temperatures as students are dropped off for in-person instruction. Back in her office, she prepares for any student experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms.
“I can keep up to two people in [the office],” she shared. “If I have more than two people, I take them straight to room 9.”
A designated overflow room for the health office, Room 9 is spacious and well-stocked for ill students awaiting pick-up. These days, Teresa does not see many kids, so she uses the extra time to assist teachers, a familiar role. During her tenure, Teresa has been a substitute for almost every classified position at Peralta, from Instructional Aide to Librarian.
Though she is happy to do “a little bit of everything,” Teresa never planned to work for JUSD. “I was originally going to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said.
Then an Activity Supervisor position opened at her kids’ school. Familiar with the site because of her involvement in the PTA, she decided to go for it. Teresa enjoyed the work so much that she added Health Care Aide to her schedule. After holding both positions for fifteen years, she ended her time as Activity Supervisor but still has her whistle for subbing. Now in her 21st year, she cannot imagine working anywhere else.
“This is my family,” she said. “I love to be part of making a difference in a child’s life. It’s been the best job for me, and that’s why I’m still here.”
Robyn Ellison - Bus Driver, Transportation Department
Robyn Ellison’s day begins in the JUSD Transportation Yard.
“I’m picky, so I try to keep my bus really clean and sanitized,” said the Bus Driver, wiping down seats before her morning Pedley Elementary route.
Currently, Robyn transports three students in a Functional Skills class for in-person instruction. At each stop, she is patient, allowing students time to get on the bus. She checks their temperatures and greets them enthusiastically. At Pedley, she tells the kids to have a good day and helps them with their backpacks.
“The fun part about this job is to see these kids from little to growing up,” shared Robyn. “One of the kids I have now was in a wheelchair when I used to [drive him], and now he’s walking. They grow up so fast. I enjoy it, every single day.”
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Robyn has been with JUSD for eight years, driving for every school except Del Sol Academy. When schools were closed to in-person instruction, she helped the district by making deliveries and even drove for the first run of the Mobile Library.
Once, a teacher at Pedley wrote to the district about Robyn’s stellar performance. “It made me feel like I was so special, because I take my job very seriously,” said Robyn. “I respect every parent. Some parents are different than others, but if you let them know that their kids are going to be safe on your bus, it’s always good.”
Cindy Hert, the very teacher who wrote to the district, put into words how everyone in JUSD feels about Robyn: “Everytime I get her, I know it’s going to be a good year.”
J'Maarciea Jackson - Activity Supervisor and Instructional Aide, Stone Avenue Elementary
On the first day of in-person instruction, a JUSD administrator told J'Maarciea (Jay) Jackson that he seemed more excited than the kids.
“And I was like, ‘I am!” shared Jay. “The rush of being back and seeing kids...I loved it.”
As an Activity Supervisor, Jay assists with drop-off and pick-up for in-person instruction. In between, he goes into the classroom as an Instructional Aide. “I have certain kids that I’m looking after [but I also] get to help the classroom at large,” he said. “Usually it’s with reading. It’s fun because I get to see the kids improve reading from the beginning of the year to the end.”
Jay works with 4th-6th graders. Each kid begins on a different level, and every personality is different, yet even the challenges drive him. “I get to know the kids more,” he said. “I get to know what works for them.”
In a normal year, lunchtime would mean supervision and playing soccer with the kids. Now Jay uses that time for online tutoring. He has his own Google Classroom to help students with asynchronous assignments. Though virtual learning has been challenging, Jay credits Stone Avenue’s teachers for making a smooth transition. Above all, kids remain the priority.
“I’ve worked in some form of youth program since I was fifteen, going to my local church,” said Jay. “I was the youngest one helping kids my age and younger. Helping the kids, seeing the kids grow, that’s the most rewarding part of my job.”
