Together We…Make Mornings Fun!
The first day of school is usually a combination of nerves about meeting your new teacher, exploring a new campus and hoping you can find your friends at lunch. But for students at Jersey Elementary in the Santa Fe Springs region, they get that extra reassurance when they see Valerie Cardenas, Student Supervision Associate (SSA), smiling and waiting to guide them into their classes for the day. After six years at Think Together, she knows how to balance school partnerships and the well-being of students to make every school day a great one. Read on to find out which character resonates the most with her and more interesting information!
Why did you choose to work at Think Together? What keeps you going?
I chose to work here because I loved volunteering at my kids’ school and thought it would be a great experience to work with children. What keeps me going is the relationships I built with the students, parents and staff. I enjoy coming to work, knowing that I make a difference in their day and a lot of the kids feel safe and comfortable with me.
If you ever won a free trip to any destination in the world, where would you go and who would you bring?
I would go to Miami, Florida with my two grandbabies and take them to Disney World. Disneyland is their favorite place, and I would love to create more memories with them!
What accomplishments have you or your team done this year that has filled you with the most pride?
In the past year, my team and I have worked together to adjust to new changes at our school site. Making sure our partnership with them is strong is a huge priority to making our program run well. We heavily focus on communicating well with each other and making sure we can help in any way we can.
I am especially proud of our ability to adapt because not everyone likes changes or can handle switching things up. But I think we handle it well, especially when we remember it’s all for the students.
If you could be a character in any television show or movie, which one would it be?
I would choose Wonder Woman because I am always helping people out. I love to help others in a time of need, and my grandmother always says I am like Wonder Woman. I never say no, and I never stop going!
If someone had never heard of your role, Student Supervision Associate, how would you explain it to them?
My role as an SSA is to support the flow of the school day by welcoming students in the morning, supervising breakfast/lunch, late arrivals and playground activities. I also collaborate with school staff like teachers, custodians and cafeteria workers to transition and support students. On occasion, I can be found helping in classrooms to support teachers with engagement and redirecting behaviors. At the end of the day, I supervise dismissal gates and release of children. I make sure to align with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) protocols on campus to redirect behaviors and help to create an overall positive environment for students.
Do you have a moment during your career at Think Together that has really made an impact on you?
I receive thank-you letters and gifts from students and parents thanking me for making the mornings pleasant and for being kind to their little ones. Making sure parents and SSAs can rely on each other is key to making the transition to school a smooth one. This is why I am always there when parents ask me to walk their students in when they are having a hard time. My job is to make students feel safe and comfortable and it makes me feel good to know I am someone the students and parents can lean on.
Outside of work, what do you do for fun?
I like finding fun activities to do with my children and grandchild like amusement parks, new food spots or having barbecues with them. I love to watch my older boys play in their men’s Sunday baseball league especially since I can bring my new baby, my Frenchie, to play at the park.
