Classified school employees are “the heartbeats of our schools.” They are the everyday heroes who provide essential support to scholars and their families behind the scenes. Their contributions and hard work keep schools running smoothly, which ultimately improves the educational experience for scholars. This week Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is celebrating classified school employees for their dedication to supporting scholars’ academic success.
To honor our classified school employees, we’re shining the spotlight on two wonderful staff members and their experiences at CCS:
Melissa Alcaraz, Administrative Assistant
At CCS we are on a mission to inspire and develop innovative, creative, self-directed learners. Although I am not an instructor, I am very passionate about my role at CCS and supporting our scholars and their families. I love being a part of a school that puts scholars first.
Even though my time at CCS only began five months ago, I truly enjoy my role as the Administrative Assistant to Business Services. It was easy to transition into the role, especially given that my background is not accounting based. Working with highly qualified staff and management has contributed to my development and growth in both a professional and personal manner. I am pleased that I can contribute to the success of CCS and meet scholars’ needs. It’s rewarding to work at a school that not only encourages scholars to succeed but its staff as well.
As an Administrative Assistant with an emphasis in finance, I find myself with new responsibilities that I enjoy. I contribute to the overall sustainability and growth of our school, and I am proud of the work that I do. I believe in CCS’ core values (Achievement, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork) and I appreciate the positive impact that those core values have on our school’s culture and community. For example, through teamwork and communication, I was able to quickly grasp our school’s finance processes. It was all new to me, but now I believe that have mastered those processes! I am very excited to be part of CCS, and I look forward to continuing to develop my skills. Thank you, CCS!
Nora Barnhart, Attendance Specialist
I have been part of the CCS family since September 2013 and truly enjoy being part of the school. We provide an alternative method of education through independent study for families throughout California. I have worked in the education field for 12 years, and I enjoy being able to help scholars grow both academically and personally. My role as Attendance Specialist is an administrative responsibility, so I proudly help our school function by managing withdrawals and helping to maintain accuracy in our scholar database. I also submit attendance data to the state so that our school can receive funding to support our scholars.
I am grateful that I can assist our families if they have a change in circumstances and our program no longer fits their needs for a myriad of reasons. I strive to make the process as smooth as possible for them so their scholar can continue their education in the best way possible. I truly enjoy working to ensure a steady transition for each scholar and their family.
I look forward to continuing to be part of the CCS community and assisting our scholars, parents and staff as needed. Thank you, CCS, for giving me the opportunity to help our scholars in their educational endeavors!
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Melissa Alcaraz is the Administrative Assistant to Business Services at Compass Charters Schools and the newest classified employee! She attended CSULA and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. She has years of administrative experience. In her spare time, she likes to stay active by hiking, jogging, and going to see the latest scary movie with her friends.
Nora Barnhart is the Attendance Specialist at Compass Charter Schools. She has been part of the CCS family for almost five years. Nora earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Utah State University in 2002 as she loves learning about the Earth and geologic features, particularly volcanoes. Before working at CCS, she worked for Quantum Learning Network organizing educational training workshops for teachers and scholars around the country. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her six-year-old son, reading fantasy and science fiction books, and listening and singing to great music.
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Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is a WASC-accredited virtual charter school that serves families throughout California. Interested in learning more about CCS’ flexible academic programs? Visit our website, or contact our enrollment team at enrollment@compasscharters.org or (877) 506-8631.