Educator Awards Spotlight: Holly Hernandez
Holly Hernandez is the ESD 123 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year and is the Kitchen Manager at Chief Joseph Middle School in Richland School District
We’re sharing the wisdom of our incredible regional and state Teachers and Classified School Employees of the Year, in their own words. Find more on our Spotlight page.
What one change in education are you most excited for when we reach our post-COVID reality?
I’d love to think that Covid is over and that school will resume as normal. A normal cafeteria would be amazing. It’s very sad to see the kids sitting on chairs with no table and unable to really be themselves and enjoy their lunch hour.
Tell us about a time during COVID-19 that you felt successful as an educator.
During this last year the Nutrition Services team has gone above and beyond our normal in the ways of serving our students. We were serving the community as a whole and in a format very different from indoor service. Our success in our department was due to an amazing team of dedicated individuals I’m so proud to call my co-workers.
What was something that surprised you about working in education?
I think over the years the only thing that has surprised me about working in education is that each District is so different yet similar in so many ways. I’ve had the pleasure of working for four different Districts and they all had something to offer.
When did you decide to work in education and what sustains you professionally?
I decided to work in education upon my own children starting school. I was a regular volunteer that then turned into wanting to work while my children were in school. I worked from the bottom up and now am proud to be a Kitchen Manager and the President of our Union. I’ve grown over the years and with every year I’ve become a better employee.
What do you wish more people knew about your job?
I truly wish more people understood the time and effort it takes to feed a school of 500+ students. We have often felt that we are not as important to the District as teachers or paras for example. We are often treated differently and I honestly don’t think they realized just how much of an important role we take in the lives of students that is until the pandemic. We were then called “Essential Staff” and expected to do more than most were doing during the shutdown. We graciously did as we are professionals and take our job very seriously.
Learn more about the Teacher and Classified School Employees of the Year on the Educator Awards website.
