Classified Employee of the Year
Cathy Lopez
Social-emotional paraeducator at Roosevelt High School
Cathy Lopez has been a social-emotional paraeducator at Roosevelt since 2013 , working directly with 10 students receiving special education services and supporting 40 additional students . She helps them learn healthy ways to communicate and socialize and tries to be whatever her students need that day .
She takes pride in watching many of her students prove their doubters wrong and achieve their goals . One of her biggest challenges is building trust with her students ’ parents so that she can understand their home life and how to establish a support system for the students . When Lopez started working at Roosevelt , she transformed the Social Emotional Support Center classroom into a welcoming space for not only students in her program but any student on campus who needs support .
Carrying out the district ’ s vision : Where students , families and staff are valued and empowered to achieve their greatest potential : Lopez starts each day checking on her students whether by phone , text or in person . She holds students accountable and because they feel valued , their behavior and academics improve .
About Lopez : Lopez has been with Fresno Unified since 1990 , starting as a noon-time assistant . She also oversees fundraising for Roosevelt ’ s athletic programs and School of the Arts and is an adviser for the Marjoree Mason Center ’ s Know More program to help students choose healthy relationships . She helps with the Special Olympics in L . A . every year . Her work has changed “ the core of who I am ,” she said , and taught her not to judge others too quickly . Lopez graduated from McLane High School and attended Fresno City College and Fresno Adult School . Lopez and her siblings take care of their mother .
From Gina Jones , special education resource specialist at Roosevelt : “ She has a very calming manner about her when dealing with high-stress situations and agitated students that helps put them at ease .”
In Her Own Words : “ I use the skills I have learned over the last 30 years to help the kids who just need a little more encouragement to reach their potential . It is through them and their achievements that I have achieved my own potential .”
Elementary Educator of the Year
Emmelin Herrera
Sixth-grade teacher at Herrera Elementary School
Emmelin Herrera has been a teacher in Fresno Unified since 2007 and with Herrera since it opened in August . She is an expert at integrating science , technology , engineering , art and math ( STEAM ) into her lessons and leads professional development for other teachers in STEAM , which is a focus of Herrera Elementary . She is seen as the “ go to ” colleague among teachers of all grades . Herrera helps her students learn by doing . For example , when they learn about ratios , she has them adjust the ratios in a cookie recipe and then they get to make the cookies . She enjoys planning instruction and designing learning experiences for her students . She strongly believes in the power of connecting her class to the community and the community to her class . Through online platforms , she can invite community members from throughout the country and the world to speak to her class . “ If we , as teachers , do not engage our students and help them find something they are excited about , we risk their future ,” she said .
About Herrera : Herrera was born in Mexico , immigrating to the United States when she was 5 . After a long and difficult journey to U . S . citizenship , she expects to take her citizenship oath this year at Herrera Elementary with her class witnessing . She graduated from Fresno State with bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degrees and during college worked with the district at various elementary and middle schools through the City of Fresno ’ s Community Science Workshop program . She was hired by the district in 2014 , and has worked at Vang Pao , Columbia , Homan and Del Mar elementary schools prior to Herrera Elementary . Herrera has been a presenter at numerous conferences with a focus on STEAM content integration and has been a lead teacher since 2018 , yet is constantly seeking new strategies and professional learning for herself . She is married to Adan D . Herrera , and they have three children who are 5 , 3 and 1 years old . Herrera is one of three finalists from throughout Fresno County for the County Teacher of the Year .
Carrying out the district ’ s vision : Herrera believes that student engagement in their school is key to their success . She works long , extra hours to design lessons to tap into what excites students .
From Danielle J . Villarreal , teacher on special assignment at Herrera : “ She pushes her students to dream bigger , work harder and to build character . Learning is not just a hope in her classroom – it ’ s a guarantee .”
In Her Own Words : “ One day , our lives could be in a life-or-death situation and dependent on the decision one of my former students makes . It is my responsibility to ensure that they are prepared to make informed , creative and effective decisions .”