English Language Development Assistant is SDCOE’s Classified Employee of the Year

One of the qualities that sets Vedrana Carew apart as an employee is her ability to connect with students and create trusting relationships, her colleagues say.

Carew has been an English language development assistant at Lindsay Community School for more than five years.

“Vedrana embodies everything that is great about JCCS: she puts our students first; she not only gets the job done but she excels in everything she does and is eager to learn new things to improve services to our students and staff,” said Patricia Jimenez.

It's that care for her work and her students that prompted co-workers to nominate her and a panel of colleague to select her as SDCOE's Classified School Employee of the Year. She will now go on to compete at the countywide level.

Most recently, she has been instrumental in reviewing the assessments for students learning English as a second language. She also organizes the annual holiday party for students, ensuring they receive gifts and/or food baskets for themselves and their babies. Lindsay Community School is a partnership with Children of the Rainbow to support pregnant and parenting teens in grades 9-12.

“I know there are a lot of hardworking, dedicated employees at SDCOE, but few are loved by students, staff, and families like Vedrana Carew,” Principal Theresa Fox and teacher Dawn Miller said in their nomination form.

Carew said she is thrilled to work with the team and students that she does. “I always say I am the luckiest person in the world and feel privileged to work with Lindsay students, teachers, and staff,” she explained.

She added that she’s proud of the foundation that educators at Lindsay Community School are setting to create a more equitable world, through a commitment to access and opportunity along with a focus on social justice.

“As educators, we strive to give the very best of ourselves in the collective pursuit of success and achievement for our students,” she said. “As mentors, we are here to aid in the growth and development of powerful relationships, guiding the students and each other on our path towards the extraordinary.