The Socorro Independent School District proudly recognized Jesus Salas, the head custodian in the Department of Athletics, as the district’s inaugural Support Employee of the Year. This honor highlighted not only his hard work and dedication but also the essential role he plays in Team SISD.
Salas has been with the district for 11 years and has previously served at Hueco Elementary School and Desert Wind School, making him an invaluable asset to the school community. He was honored at the SISD Support Employee of the Year’s Award Ceremony on May 2 at the Student Activities Complex (SAC) II.
“I just want to say thank you to the district for this opportunity and thank you for the initiative to make this event happen.” Salas said. “All of my coworkers around the facilities of their campuses, they will see this and learn from this and try hard and work hard every day.”
Starting this year, the Support Employee of the Year Program honored 56 exceptional School Support Employees of the Year, four finalists, and one overall winner, for their remarkable contributions to their schools and departments. The award celebrated a team member who consistently demonstrated outstanding customer service based on the district's four standards: safety, professionalism, collaboration, and integrity.
SISD Interim Superintendent James Vasquez said the awards program recognized outstanding employees throughout the district for their exceptional customer service and reinforced Team SISD’s commitment to creating a positive and supportive environment for everyone in the community.
“Everyone has an important role in Team SISD and I truly believe that everyone in our schools, at the DSC, in our departments and facilities, really loves and cares for our district,” Vasquez said. “That is what makes Socorro ISD so special – all of the amazing people in our community. We are All In for Team SISD, for student success, for staff success and for our overall excellence.”
SISD schools and departments chose one School Support Employee of the Year in January to represent each of them in the districtwide competition. In February, nominees were interviewed by a diverse panel that included directors, students, teachers, and parents, leading to the selection of four finalists. In April, a second selection committee, consisting of cabinet members, directors, principals, teachers, students, and parents, interviewed each finalist and ultimately selected the overall winner.