Unsung heroes make substantial contributions that are typically unknown or unacknowledged and they frequently go without recognition. However, the special efforts of one employee of the Oakdale Joint Unified School District didn’t go unnoticed.
Dina Page, lead custodian at Cloverland Elementary School, was honored at the Stockton Hilton on June 13 for the “Unsung Hero” Award sponsored by the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Area E, which includes Stanislaus, Mariposa, and San Joaquin counties.
Oakdale’s CSEA chapter President Mark Mutoza said that the award is for outstanding employees who “go beyond the call.” He said the local executive board of CSEA selects individuals from the chapter who are then voted upon by the membership. A letter is then submitted to the regional office.
“She’s very outgoing, an outstanding employee,” Mutoza said of Page. “She’s very helpful, she’s there for the teachers…she’s good with the kids.”
Cloverland Principal Stacey Aprile penned the letter of recommendation for Page to receive the award.
“I could not think of a more deserving recipient of this honor,” Aprile stated in the letter. “She personifies dedication and dependability.”
Aprile’s letter also included statements from several Cloverland teachers and other staff members detailing specific circumstances where Page has been of special assistance and support. Aprile further stated that Page is an “integral part of why [Cloverland] is successful.”
“She moved up through our ranks pretty quick,” said OJUSD Director of Maintenance and Operations Dan Casey, adding that Page started as a night custodian and then moved into a daytime custodial position. “We saw her caring attitude toward her job. She took her job very serious.”
Casey also said that Page is very professional about her job and gets her work done, and is well-liked amongst staff.
Also during the evening of the awards banquet, OJUSD’s CSEA past president Mabel McNaught was honored with the Regional President’s Award, the only one given, for her outstanding service and being active in the union.
“She’s very involved in the union,” Mutoza said of McNaught. “She’s done all kinds of fundraisers,…helped people in the union…She’s just an all-around union person. She was very good at what she did [as president].”
Dina Page, lead custodian at Cloverland Elementary School, was honored at the Stockton Hilton on June 13 for the “Unsung Hero” Award sponsored by the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Area E, which includes Stanislaus, Mariposa, and San Joaquin counties.
Oakdale’s CSEA chapter President Mark Mutoza said that the award is for outstanding employees who “go beyond the call.” He said the local executive board of CSEA selects individuals from the chapter who are then voted upon by the membership. A letter is then submitted to the regional office.
“She’s very outgoing, an outstanding employee,” Mutoza said of Page. “She’s very helpful, she’s there for the teachers…she’s good with the kids.”
Cloverland Principal Stacey Aprile penned the letter of recommendation for Page to receive the award.
“I could not think of a more deserving recipient of this honor,” Aprile stated in the letter. “She personifies dedication and dependability.”
Aprile’s letter also included statements from several Cloverland teachers and other staff members detailing specific circumstances where Page has been of special assistance and support. Aprile further stated that Page is an “integral part of why [Cloverland] is successful.”
“She moved up through our ranks pretty quick,” said OJUSD Director of Maintenance and Operations Dan Casey, adding that Page started as a night custodian and then moved into a daytime custodial position. “We saw her caring attitude toward her job. She took her job very serious.”
Casey also said that Page is very professional about her job and gets her work done, and is well-liked amongst staff.
Also during the evening of the awards banquet, OJUSD’s CSEA past president Mabel McNaught was honored with the Regional President’s Award, the only one given, for her outstanding service and being active in the union.
“She’s very involved in the union,” Mutoza said of McNaught. “She’s done all kinds of fundraisers,…helped people in the union…She’s just an all-around union person. She was very good at what she did [as president].”
