In California, we celebrate Classified School Employee week the third full week in May each year.  On day one of this celebration, I mentioned that Classified Employees are the “Backbone” of a school system.  The reason for this is that although teachers are delivering academic content and doing a myriad of other duties as needed, Classified employees support the smooth operation of offices, provide safety, perform maintenance of buildings and property, transport students, provide healthy nutrition, support students in the classroom, nurture students, and have diverse talents that we could not do without.

Most individuals don’t know what a classified position is in a school/district as they see all employees as part of our educational system. Classified employees are positions that don’t require a teaching credential.  Teachers are known as “certificated” employees and the rest of the team members are known as “classified” employees.

The backbone in vertebrates, animals with backbones or spines, runs from the base of the skull to the pelvis.  It serves as a pillar to support the body’s weight and to protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that run from your brain through the spinal column and branch out to the rest of the body.  In humans, the backbone also helps to transmit body weight in walking and standing.

The reason I say Classified Employees are the “backbone” is because every employee is “a pillar” that supports students, who can be looked at as a “bundle of nerves”, and “protects” them in various ways. They provide mentorship that eventually allows our students to “walk and stand” by providing guidance, motivation, emotional support, and role modeling.

As day two of Classified Employee week comes to an end, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Your work is appreciated year-round, but this week is a reminder that you are the “backbone” to a successful community.