Araceli Brambila Named 2024 SDCOE Classified Employee of the Year

For more than two decades, Araceli Brambila has supported the academic and personal development of students across the county as part of JCCS. Because of her invaluable contribution to JCCS, Brambila was selected as the 2024 San Diego County Office of Education Classified School Employee of the Year.

“Araceli’s dedication to students and their families is clear when you watch her interact with them,” said Lindsay Sullivan, who nominated her. “Students always feel welcomed and supported in her presence, and families know that they can count on Araceli to assist them with any needs that they have, from helping them navigate school district enrollment areas to assisting them with housing resources or other daily life needs.”

One of the members of the selection panel shared, “Her exceptional dedication, commitment, service, and leadership is truly inspiring. Araceli represents the best of SDCOE and our North Star goal."

Brambila started at SDCOE in 1998 as a teacher’s assistant, and has also been a community clerical assistant and student support specialist. For the last 10 years, she has worked as a student transition technician, most recently at the Youth Transition Campus. She is also a graduate of the JCCS program.

“I had the most amazing teacher, Mrs. Doris Stein,” Brambila recalled. “She taught me to never give up; to always continue to grow, and in modeling compassion and communication skills with structure.”

Brambila builds meaningful relationships with students as well as families, community partners, and co-workers. She has helped students across the county with essential life skills by creating workshops that include financial literacy and information on getting a driver's license.

“Her dedicated service to JCCS is an inspiring story of a JCCS graduate giving her heart and soul to serve the needs of so many students and families with true compassion and commitment,” said Justin Litrell, a school counselor with San Diego SOAR Academy. 

Some of Brambila’s best memories while working at JCCS include attending high school graduations and checking in with past students. One of her favorite memories was from Mother’s Day while working at Campo and Barrett where she surprised seven students by driving their moms from North County to Rancho de Campo to spend a couple of hours with their boys. 

“The whole camp was in tears. It was amazing,” she said.