IUSD announced its five 2026 Classified Employees of the Year: Diana Dru, Katherine Lee, Regina Lee, Katrina Longpre and Albert Madrid.
Classified employees include custodians, para-educators, media technicians, food services staff members, analysts, secretaries, bus drivers, maintenance technicians, clerks, and other non-certificated staff members. Most are represented by the California School Employees Association (CSEA). This year’s five employees were selected from more than 2,000 classified employees Districtwide.
A team from the District, including Board Members Lauren Brooks, Jeff Kim Katie McEwen and Connie Stone, Superintendent Cassie Parham, District staff, and CSEA President Gus Talamantes, traveled to each site to surprise this year’s honorees in front of their families, colleagues, and students.
Regina Lee, English Learners Instructional Assistant
Regina Lee is an outstanding English Language Instructional Assistant who knows that “one size fits all” doesn’t work in language learning. She can take a complex grade-level lesson and instantly break it down into manageable chunks using visuals, gestures or simplified syntax without watering down the rigor. She builds trust with students who might otherwise feel disconnected from school. She can precisely target individual student needs, ranging from phonics to academic vocabulary, whether instructing students in an individualized session or within the regular classroom. But what truly sets Regina apart is her relational capacity. Regina’s calm, steady presence provides the emotional safety net students need when they feel overwhelmed. She is a reliable face in a world that can feel confusing to an English Learner. She is a catalyst for belonging, ensuring language barriers are not a barrier to success. The growth shown by Solis Park’s English Learners Program is largely credited to Ms. Lee’s attention, care, love and support she provides.
Join us in congratulating our 2026 Classified Employee of the Year!