Working for the Riverbank Unified School District for more than 20 years, bus driver Cheryl Galvan is getting some time in the spotlight.
This year, the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region VII partnered to honor outstanding classified (non-supervisory) education employees in Stanislaus County and Galvan was among them. Called “Employees Making a Difference,” school districts throughout the county selected their own honorees and forwarded nominations to SCOE. Twenty-two outstanding classified staff members were honored at a special reception on Monday, Jan. 14 at the Martin G. Petersen Event Center and six honorees were selected to go on to represent Stanislaus County in the California Department of Education’s statewide recognition program.
The six representatives (one from each work category) announced were: Cheryl Galvan, Riverbank Unified School District, Transportation category; Brigid Olson, Somerset Middle School of Sylvan Union District, Child Nutrition category; Anita Theiler, Cloverland Elementary of Oakdale Unified, Para-Educator and Instructional Aide category; Vernon Wheeland, Ceres Unified School District, Maintenance/Operations category; Jeanine Sique, Waterford Unified School District, Support/Security Services category; and Lorena Rodriguez-Daniel, Empire Union School of Empire Union School District, Office and Technical category.
Riverbank’s Galvan was nominated by her supervisor, Rudy Serrato, the director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation (MOT). The Riverbank Unified School District’s Leadership Team of site and central office administrators selected Galvan for the Employees Making A Difference recognition this school year.
“Cheryl stands out as one of our staff who supports students beyond the school day,” Riverbank Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Daryl Camp said. “I can count on seeing Cheryl and her dad at several basketball and football games throughout the year. While watching the games, Cheryl interacts with student bus riders and their families. Cheryl seems to really enjoy interacting with students both on the bus and at athletic contests.”
During her 22 years with the district, she has demonstrated her knowledge and high skills of the job during everyday bus driving and also during emergency and stressful situations. She is committed to the students and demonstrates this by her emphasis on safety on the bus. She willingly promotes collaboration with the school sites.
Also, it was noted at the reception that Galvan’s community involvement is unrivaled. She is a cheerleader for students in the stands who may have no one else to cheer for them. She buys food for hungry students and on numerous occasions has made meals for the entire team to take on an athletic trip. Also, when you see Riverbank Unified’s award-winning decorated bus in the city’s annual Christmas parade, know that Galvan is the one who made sure it was “just right.”
“This year, I joined Cheryl on her route one afternoon,” added Camp. “She, like many of our bus drivers, are able to focus on the road and student safety with 50-plus students on the bus. This is an exceptional skill. You can see her connection with students as they enter and exit the bus. Riverbank is fortunate to have Cheryl on our team.”
It was also announced at the Jan. 14 reception that Kathy King of Chatom Preschool, of Chatom Union School District, is the recipient of the third annual Jane Johnston Civility Award for exemplifying the principles of civility both at work and in her personal life.
