Latest / The Recess-An Inside Look at the Auburn School District / Episode #9: Analia Galloway, Director of Human Resources

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Episode #9: Analia Galloway, Director of Human Resources · The Recess-An Inside Look at the Auburn School District

• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Recess Podcast.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Dr.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: Alan Spicci, the proud superintendent of the Auburn School District.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: The Recess Podcast exists to help us tell the stories of the people and the programs that make Auburn School District such a special place to be.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_00: I have the really great fortune to see a lot of things that happen behind the scenes and uh always think it'd be really cool to tell the story to the community.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: So we've talked to teachers and leaders in the district.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: We have another leader with us today.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and she is Annalia Galloway, the director of HR.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: Annalia, welcome.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: Hello, thank you for having me.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: I'm excited to be here.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we're excited to have you too.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: And uh hopefully nobody is turning off the podcast right now when I said human resources.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_01: I hope so too.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: Because they're actually uh helpful, friendly people, and uh uh I've occasionally joked that not every HR person has the H part down, but uh we actually have a wonderful team.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: So uh Dr.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: John Young is the assistant superintendent, um, Chris Callahan's done amazing work.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: John Rstad has been the department for a while, he's great.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Lisa Connors does a great job with our public records, and uh Analia is focused on hiring, uh recruiting, and other duties as assigned.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: That is correct, yes.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but she really helps with some of our most strategic work in this school district.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we put together a strategic plan and identified what was important, and of course, uh excellent staff that represents the community is one of the things that came out at the top.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so we're glad to have Annalia leading this work, and she's gonna talk today about um really working in the Auburn School District.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: All things hiring, yes.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: So uh while most of these podcasts are fit in the good to know category, uh for some people this might uh might even lead to a career in Auburn.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_01: I hope so, yeah.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: Let's hope we get caught a lot of applicants.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: Which should be great.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: So oftentimes I do the little plug if you like this episode.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Uh you know, tell somebody about it, forward it to people.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Uh you might want to send it out to uh your your friends, kids, whatever.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly anybody that's looking who's looking for a job, looking for a job in education, maybe should be looking for a job in education, they don't realize it yet.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um because Auburn School District, and I I really think schools in general are a great place to work.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_01: I agree.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: Uh you you really get to make a difference and do meaningful work.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we have we need all the careers here, right?
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: We have HR in business and technology and maintenance and grounds, as well as the teachers and the paraeducators, and anyway.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I'll ask Annalia about all the jobs.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: So be ready, Analia, because that's going to be quite a quiz.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but seriously, it's a great place to work.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we've done a lot to improve our compensation.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's very family-friendly environment.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, very supportive.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: Uh there are great benefits.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: There's retirement, and uh, I think sometimes we sell ourselves short uh out of modesty and you know just the day-to-day grind.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: But it is a great, great profession uh to be an educator.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: So, Analia, we're glad to have you here.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: And let's shift into uh where we hear from Annalia Galloway, our director of human resources.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um I am going to ask the first question which I ask of all of my guests.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: Analyah, tell us about your favorite teacher.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: Uh that would be Mrs.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_01: Guillaume.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_01: She was actually my English teacher in middle school.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_01: And fun fact about her, she was a retired nun uh and then went into education.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: So as you can possibly imagine, she was quite formidable in in her character and and that kind of not necessarily rub people the wrong way, but that was something of a struggle for some students.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: That she was very tough.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but what I loved about her is that you could tell she cared and that she was always fair.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_01: Um and she always took the time with her students, and um you could see the true love that she had for English and really for literature.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: And for me, that was important.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_01: And as a kid, so one of just a little bit of story here, as a kid, one of my joys was going to the library with my mom.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: So we would go every two weeks, which was like the you know, the checkout period, and I checked out the maximum number of books allowed.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_01: And so every two weeks we would go to the library, and that continued on for a long time.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: And so, like being in Mrs.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: Guillaume's class was kind of just an extension of that, like that true love of literature and books and and reading and writing.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: So I just I loved it.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_01: It just it was such an engaging class to be in.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and she made it challenging but fun at the same time.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_01: So I don't know that everybody felt that way, but I certainly did.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: It's interesting as I do these interviews.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: So many people have mentioned a teacher who has challenged them.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: And like you describe a great balance of challenging but fun.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Or fun but challenging, I think you said.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: I appreciate that story, and I just love hearing everybody's story about their favorite teacher.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: You you see themes that are in common, uh, but all this wonderful, just interesting diversity and people's backgrounds and styles and all those kind of things.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: All right, let's shift gears to um working in the Auburn School District.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_00: So let's start out with the big picture.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: How many people work in the Auburn School District?
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: So we have approximately 3,300 employees.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_01: Now that's counting our hourly employees, our you know, coaches, miscellaneous staff.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but if we're talking just people kind of like in a continuous position, so a position that it goes through the full school year um and has a set assignment, that we have about 2,500 employees.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: And we think of them in different categories based on the work they do or um the certification that's required.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: So um we use a lot of jargon in education.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_01: We do, yes.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: And we're gonna try to avoid that today.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna try very hard.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_00: If if we do use it, we are going to explain it.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um so maybe somebody will hear a term that that we've done to education speak and uh people get it.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: Tell us about we use the words certificated and classified.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: What do those mean?
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so those are our two staff groups really.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: So when we're thinking about certificated staff, um those are employees that require a certificate for their position.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: So those are our teachers, our principals, some other administrators in the district that are not at a building.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then also our um ESA staff that education speaks there.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: So that's our um educational staff associates.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: Those are our psychologists, our social workers, our school counselors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, like those positions still require a certificate.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_01: And some of them also require some other sort of like state licensure, for example, to hold their position.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_01: So those are um certificated employees.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: And again, those are the ones where they have to hold um a state certificate for their position.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: And we have roughly maybe I think about 1250 in that.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: Correct, yeah, about that, yes.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um and then in addition, you have administrators who may or may not be certificated.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_01: Correct, yeah.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_01: So some of our administrators are n don't require a certificate for their position.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_01: Like myself, I don't require one.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um and and also some other district, you know, main office district staff that do not.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: Great.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so classified.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: This is a big bucket.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um it is a huge bucket, yes.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_01: It encompasses all of our other valuable staff that we need to run the district, but that don't require a certificate for their position.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_01: So this is our um paraeducators that support in our classrooms, our office staff in the buildings that help run the buildings, and also, you know, in our district office that captures nutrition services and our maintenance and operations, which that in itself is a little bit of a bucket there, where you have carpenters, painters, general maintenance staff, um, custodians, um, all of all of those staff, warehouse employees, for example, as well.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then you have transportation, which is a big position there.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_01: You have our bus drivers, routers, dispatchers, those are big jobs there.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_01: And and then you have your district support staff.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_01: So, like myself and other employees here in JPF that support running the district.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: So you have our you know, human resources, payroll, um, goodness, department of technology.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_01: What else have we got?
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_01: Student special services employees and other department employees.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, classified staff are are all of those other heroes that we we get to employ that help support the district.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_00: And I love classified positions uh have a variety of requirements for entry.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: And uh some of them you can start uh really out of high school or you know, you can start where you are.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: We had some classified staff members on our most recent strategic plan uh bus driver I'm thinking of in particular, who really did a good job of advocating for the district helping uh to to provide additional training for classified staff, especially if they want to um be good at their job today, but also think about growing into another job down the road.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, who can you give us an example of that?
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so we don't want our classified staff to feel limited by their position.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_01: So we really work to try and showcase what's available and what's out there and and work through kind of what those options may be.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_01: So when they may start as a substitute, for example, um, just because it's flexible and that's what they need at the time, but we try and be thoughtful about where they're looking to grow um and how we can support that.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_01: So we have people that start as as paraprofessionals, and then some of them actually move into teaching, and then some move into other positions in the district.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_01: Like they may decide that they want to be an office manager, and then that moves and kind of morphs into maybe working in um in HR, for example.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_01: We had somebody that made that shift.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_01: So it kind of is very flexible.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's a position many positions that is that that can move that way where you're not you're not locked in.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: So we're trying to uh promote growth uh and career opportunities within the district.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: And that that was a great example, Annalia.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: I'm here with Analia Galloway, uh, our director of human resources who works uh primarily with hiring employees.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: And let's talk about the process for applying for a position in Auburn School District.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: Kind of walk us through that.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I'll bet parts of it are the same pretty much regardless what job we're talking about.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_00: Other parts are differ by the specific job.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: So explain that to the audience.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so at the point that we have a vacancy, we get it posted on our application system, so which you can find going to the main district website under I'm looking for, I think it is, there's an employment tab.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: And once you select that, you get to our recruiting and hiring page, which really will list out all the positions that we have open at that time.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_01: So we try and, of course, stay very active on it and close them out as soon as they're they're closed, right, and filled.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um but what somebody applies uh for a position, we then look at really HR works with a hiring manager, so the hiring manager would be the person that's responsible for filling that job.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um they look at screening applicants and and kind of moving through the process on getting people in for interviews, and that's what we help with in HR.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then once we have people scheduled for interviews, um we then of course interview, and from that point, then the hiring manager decides if they want to make a recommendation for employment.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then if thankfully they get the offer, then that's offer is made, and then we move through hiring.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um so I would say just one thing to keep in mind with hiring and with our process is that a lot of it works through the computer.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_01: So you apply online, your profile and application is online.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_01: If you're gonna get, if you get selected or scheduled for an interview, that comes through your application profile, which is where you submitted your application.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_01: So a lot of people don't realize that, so they need to be checking for their email because that's where it's gonna come through most of the time.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then you know, the the verbal part or where we do phone conversations is with the offer piece, because that's of course something that we like to do uh more one-on-one, I should say.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, I think that's pretty much sums up the process.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: Well, thank you for that overview.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and if if you are interested in applying, uh, I've given this advice to numerous people.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: I said, uh, call or email Analyah and and just walk through, you know, where are you in your life and and what might you be interested in?
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: What would it look like?
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_00: And uh so Analia or our other staff in HR uh can do that.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_00: If you have a very specific question, we can route you to a a principal or a director who uh might be able to answer that as well.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but don't be shy about applying.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: Don't assume that uh there is not a job for you because for most people we find out um there really could be the right match.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I would say that we're um for being a large district, I think we we work really hard to be relational and to be welcoming.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_01: And so it is very often that we keep little kind of tabs and alerts on people that we know are interested in specific positions, whether they're currently employed with us or not.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um so I would say, like you suggested, keep looking on the website.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_01: That's also where we post a lot of things that are coming up.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_01: For example, our uh all Auburn School District job fair, which is for all of our staff when we have vacancies for certificated and classified.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_01: So both of those big bucket groups, uh, that's in March.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_01: We'll have additional information posted there as well.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you beat me to it.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: I was about to ask about hiring fairs.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so the the March hiring fair, uh we have jobs uh of of all types there.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: We uh will hopefully have some principals who could interview uh teachers, but we have a lot of different um administrators and hiring managers who can talk about the district and uh oftentimes we'll take resumes and have conversation.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: So uh talk about the district hiring fair, and then I know there are other hiring fairs, the big one being in Tacoma.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: Can you just tell people about when when's a good chance to come out and and talk to the Armored School District?
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_01: So I always recommend coming to the the ASD one.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_01: That one is a great opportunity, regardless of whether you're looking for a certificated position or classified position, because we do like to have all of our positions and departments represented.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_01: So we, like you mentioned, we have principals there that um interview on site.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_01: And we also have classified administrators.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_01: So we often ask for somebody from transportation or somebody from student special services to talk about what it's like to be a special education paraeducator or representation from nutrition services.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_01: So we do have people there to answer questions.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_01: So even if you're unsure and maybe just interested in getting more information, I definitely recommend going there.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_01: We also have our substitute coordinator that attends.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_01: So if you're looking at maybe kind of just dipping your toes into the pool there and want to look at what it what a job at the district could look like, I think a substitute position is great if you're able to do that because it gives you an opportunity to check out different buildings and positions.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_01: So that person is there and can and can definitely talk through that process.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_01: So that one's a great one.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_01: And then for our certificated staff, the Tacoma WASPA job fair is a big one for us.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_01: So that one I definitely recommend also.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um we do oftentimes make offers on site there as well as our Auburn one.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um and then we also we try and represent at all of our local fairs, um, and and certainly with the with the um universities that we have partnerships with also.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_01: So anytime that they offer job fairs, you can likely be guaranteed that Auburn's there.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: So many ways to contact the district.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um and please come to our in-district hiring fairs as top priority.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: Share a little bit about what you hear from our applicants and and our hires.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_00: Why do people want to work in the Auburn School District?
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: The biggest thing I hear is that, well, of course, we have great benefits.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_01: We I agree.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_01: I don't think we we emphasize that enough.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um, probably because I don't know if it's just commonplace for us or it's just standard, but we do have really good benefits.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_01: You have medical, dental, vision, you um get into the retirement system.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um and then depending on maybe which employee group you're in, you might be eligible for tuition reimbursement.
• 19:07
  SPEAKER_01: So there's lots of great perks.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_01: So without a doubt.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_01: But the biggest thing I would say is that we have a very supportive community.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_01: And by that I mean not just Auburn at large with our citizens, but just the district itself.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_01: I think with our district support staff.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know that I've ever gone to another district where I've seen so many open doors, even just to walk by and say hi.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_01: I think people are just really welcoming here and they want you to succeed.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_01: So we do whatever we can to help people grow and to get to that place where they feel successful.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's the biggest driver.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_01: I hear a lot that people specifically want to come to Auburn for that.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_00: That's great.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_00: We work really hard to have a welcoming environment.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, and you know this from sitting through our new employee orientation, but every group I say exactly what you said that we're here for your success.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so if you do uh apply in Auburn and and you're hired on, don't hesitate to reach out to somebody in the central office for support.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_00: Usually your boss is your first uh and best supporter, but uh you might need help with retirement or benefits uh or payroll, or uh you might need something with training through our Department of Student Learning.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we're all here to help you be successful.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm glad that you highlighted that.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I am here with Analia Galloway, our director of Human Resources, uh talking about hiring the Auburn School District.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_00: So let's let's kind of like put ourselves on the other side of the table.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_00: What do we look for when we are hiring people?
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_01: I think first and foremost, we want somebody that's passionate about working with students and that's passionate about education.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think you mentioned this earlier, but we are a really richly diverse community, and we want people that are gonna celebrate that and want to be part of growing that community.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so it's not necessarily gonna be the most experienced person or that comes from an educational background, um, or like for our classified staff.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_01: You don't necessarily have to have experience at a district.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_01: We just want you to be ready to learn and willing to learn and really wanting to advocate for our students and be part of supporting our student success.
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_00: Good answer, yeah.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_00: There are a lot of technical skills that we can train up, and I think sometimes people are intimidated that you know they they don't have all the skills or or know all the things that a person does in whatever position.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, if we have somebody with a passion, somebody who really wants is mission driven to be there for kids, uh, somebody who really connects with The many cultures we have in the Auburn School District.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_00: That's really important to us when we brought our community together to make our goals for a strategic plan.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_00: One of the top priorities is that our staff represents our community increasingly.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_00: We've made a lot of progress over the past several years, big progress on the classified side.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_00: In the last five years, I think probably about half again as many as as we had staff of color.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_00: We made progress in administration and some progress with our teaching and we're working to make sure that students see representation of our whole community.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_00: And it's important to see yourself in the staff.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_00: And there's a whole mountain of research that supports that.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_00: They're more likely to go onto a productive path after high school.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_00: They see themselves in a teacher or an important adult, uh, a coach, for example.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um but also it's important for all of our students to know that uh the the adult role models in their lives represent uh men and women and uh various races and cultures and uh the entire community.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_00: When you when you graduate from school, uh you're gonna be with everybody and we want kids to be prepared and have a positive representation and know what's possible.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um so um I appreciate you highlighting working with diverse cultures and um I'm excited about the work that we have going on in that area in our district.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so am I.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_01: I really I want people to know that when they're looking at the job description on our website, we don't want them to feel like if they don't check every single one of those bullet points, that that's a barrier to them applying.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_01: We still want people to apply and we want to talk through what that looks like because we know certainly that again, maybe they don't have that background, but their lived experience and their past experiences translate to the work here in a different way.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_01: And in a way that's just as valuable as somebody that comes directly from, you know, another school district or having having done like work somewhere else.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, we definitely value that.
• 24:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and we just want them here if they're gonna be part of helping kids, all of our kids, feel valued, respected, and like they belong.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_00: Analia, I think that you would uh maybe shatter some stereotypes of like the you know, that dour HR person uh, you know, who is all business and no fun, in fact wants to, you know, I I think of uh Toby in the office.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh, yes.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_01: That caricature.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um and yet we've got some really dynamic, interesting people in human resources.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_01: We do, yes.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_00: So what was your path?
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and and you can take this take this up as far back as you want to go.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but what was your path to ending up in school district HR?
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_01: So I actually always wanted I did always want to be a teacher.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_01: And what first I wanted to be a veterinarian, but then when I realized I was gonna have to dissect animals, I I tapped out of that one.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_01: I was like, no, not gonna happen.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um so then I kind of shifted to teaching.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_01: And then I ended up moving to Canada, just life.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so it kind of put a pause on going to school and getting my certificate.
• 25:44
  SPEAKER_01: And from that, I kind of rolled into early childhood education when I moved to Washington, which I loved.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_01: I love working with the littles.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_01: So if I was gonna be a teacher, it was gonna be kindergarten because I love those little nuggets, they're so cute.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um But from there, I ended up growing in early childhood education and I became an assistant director and then a director.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_01: And in those positions, I really found love, love working with staff.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_01: I loved mentoring, I loved guiding, even having those tough conversations that nobody wants to have, that you, you know, those those conversations that you go to HR for guidance on.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_01: Um I enjoyed all of it because it was just all of it was in the name of support, right?
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_01: Of supporting our staff and what could we do to to better our school community.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_01: So after like finding that that was my true joy, then I shifted to public education HR.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_01: Because that was just like the meld of both those worlds of formerly wanting to be a teacher and then now really love an HR.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_01: So then I found my way into into HR school district world.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_00: My sons are in their early 20s and are trying to figure out life.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: And um I think your path is such a great example of not shutting doors and really trying to explore your interests and find a fit.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so you went from aspiring to be a veterinarian to a very fulfilling path in early childhood, uh, growing, as you said, and uh eventually moving into um you know a management leadership role.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: And that's brought you here.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I just I I encourage our our young people to keep their doors open.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um and you never know where where you're going to end up in your career.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_00: And uh lee would not be the first person to have a route that's definitely not straight.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but it's it's probably been a great ride, and I'm excited for you because you have uh just so much energy and commitment and creativity and um passion for helping people and doing what's right for kids, and I think you've got a bright future still, uh even with all of your accomplishments behind you.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_00: Um thank you for telling our uh maybe prospective hires, uh prospective applicants a little bit about how to apply for a job in Auburn.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_00: And uh again, if you're interested, um if you call the district or email um uh do you want to you're comfortable giving contact information?
• 28:35
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_01: I am happy to.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, if you are interested in getting more information on on any positions in the district open or not, or if you just kind of want to bounce some ideas off me, I'm more than happy um to to talk.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_01: My email is agalloway at auburn.wednet.edu.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um so again, I'm I'm happy to respond.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_01: You can also find it on the district website if you go to um auburn.wednet.edu under departments.
• 29:10
  SPEAKER_01: If you go to human resources, there's a whole contact list and you'll find my find me there.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and if you didn't catch all that, just hit us up on on the web and uh we'll connect you with the right people.
• 29:21
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 29:21
  SPEAKER_00: All right, uh, we're gonna finish up with uh one of my favorite questions that I ask of every guest.
• 29:27
  SPEAKER_00: What was your favorite thing to do at recess?
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_01: 100% it was dodgeball.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_01: I love dodgeball.
• 29:35
  SPEAKER_01: It was the best.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_01: I could definitely not play it now because I just don't have the stamina for that anymore.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, that was the best thing.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_01: I loved I loved getting people with the ball.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_01: It was it was probably my favorite thing.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that is great.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_00: So uh I I've done a bunch of these now.
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_00: I hear tetherball several times.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_00: I have not heard dodgeball.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and that just conjures a certain image.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_00: And actually, I'm already trying to picture uh younger Analyah uh whipping the ball at the competitive.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_00: Well, thank you.
• 30:16
  SPEAKER_00: This has been really delightful.
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_00: Uh hopefully it's sparked an interest in education uh as a career for one or more of our listeners.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_00: And again, I'll mention uh I really encourage you to share these.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_00: We're trying to get the stories out of our district.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um I personally feel this is one of my passions uh that working in education sometimes gets a bad rap.
• 30:41
  SPEAKER_00: Uh it's increasingly a well-compensated area.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_00: There are all kinds of entry points.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we have lots of lots of teachers who had another career in another field.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we have lots of paras who have become teachers, for example.
• 31:02
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we have paras who are recent high school graduates or have their AA or uh are retired from another career.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and that's a great path too, right?
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_00: If you're uh there are a lot of people who um get to that point in life where they uh you know maybe have uh some income, but they want to supplement it and they need benefits and they want to do something, you know, maybe they've they've done a job that wasn't connected with kids in the community and they want to make a difference.
• 31:33
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we s we see them.
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and and we see all kinds of incredible, inspiring um bus drivers and custodians and child nutrition and you know, school safety officers, and the list just goes on and on.
• 31:48
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so I hope that people are hearing this and thinking that education is a career where you can make a difference.
• 31:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it is uh, you know, not guaranteed employment, but it is a lot more stable than most professions.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_00: That's true.
• 32:05
  SPEAKER_00: And and there are a lot of people that I think that that is is a real selling point.
• 32:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so all right, I will get off my soapbox, but uh I'm glad that that I had uh Annalia to uh be my co-pilot for selling the Auburn School District and Careers and Education.
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_00: Analia, thank you for joining me.
• 32:25
  SPEAKER_01: I appreciate it.
• 32:26
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 32:27
  SPEAKER_00: This has been the Recess Podcast.
• 32:29
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I'm your host, Alan Spicciotti.
• 32:32
  SPEAKER_00: We're telling the stories of the people and programs that make Auburn such a special place to be.
• 32:37
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, our producer is Vicky Alonzo, uh, making us sound good and making sure that we get a podcast out.
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_00: We shoot for twice a month.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, this is kind of a passion project of ours to just get the word out.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so I appreciate you tuning in.
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, appreciate you encouraging others to listen if if you think there's something that they'll enjoy.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_00: And I look forward to seeing you uh uh the next podcast.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for being here.
• 33:06
  SPEAKER_00: See you next time.