LBUSD Employee Spotlight

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Cynthia Novoa, Assistant Principal at Harte

At Bret Harte Elementary, Assistant Principal Cynthia Novoa is proving that when leadership is grounded in care, creativity, and collaboration, students rise and attendance follows.

As the driving force behind Harte’s Strive for 95 Attendance Campaign, Ms. Novoa spearheaded a dynamic, schoolwide strategy that blends data, engagement, and joy to motivate students to show up every day. She formed a Strive for 95 Task Force and rallied teachers, counselors, staff, students, and families around a shared goal of building a culture where students feel seen, families feel informed, and attendance is celebrated as a collective responsibility. From grade-level competitions and spirit weeks to incentives that spark excitement, Ms. Novoa’s leadership has united the Harte community in reaching 95 percent or higher attendance each month.

One standout component of her work is Harte’s social media campaign, featuring student ambassadors and staff voices to clearly explain excused versus unexcused absences and reinforce the message that every day matters. These efforts resonated deeply, garnering many views, likes, and shares. 

On campus, Ms. Novoa ensures systems are strong! Attendance is monitored daily, data is reviewed monthly, and at-risk students are identified early so families can be engaged before absenteeism becomes chronic. Recognition is woven into the fabric of the school culture, with attendance trophies, monthly celebrations, pizza parties, spirit assemblies, and Bulldog “Top Dog” challenges that make showing up something to be proud of.

Because of her vision and dedication, Harte’s attendance work is a movement, one that reminds us all that when educators go above and beyond, students follow.

Thank you, Ms. Novoa, for your exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to our students. Harte is stronger because of you.

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Dr. Erin Danks, Assistant Principal at Wilson High

In her first year at Wilson and in her new role as Assistant Principal, Dr. Danks wasted no time setting a clear expectation: attendance matters, every day. Under her leadership, Wilson has seen steady, month-over-month gains in student attendance, driven by a smart balance of accountability, creativity, and collaboration.

Dr. Danks built a cross-campus attendance team that meets regularly to keep attendance front and center, analyzing trends, solving problems, and designing incentives that motivate students to show up. From lunchtime treats for students with 100% attendance to targeted, student-friendly social media campaigns, her approach meets students where they are while reinforcing the importance of being present and engaged.

Her leadership style is unmistakably team-oriented. She brings people together around shared goals, empowers staff to take ownership of attendance efforts, and sustains momentum with positivity and purpose. Colleagues describe her commitment as fierce, the kind that shifts culture, strengthens engagement, and ensures more Wilson students are present, supported, and ready to learn each day.

Thank you, Dr. Danks, for being an Attendance Champion and a rising leader in our District.

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Miguel Barraza, Campus Security Assistant at Jordan High

Every school day at Jordan begins with Miguel Barraza.

Stationed at the front gate, Miguel sets the tone. With a warm smile, a fist bump, and genuine enthusiasm, he welcomes students as they arrive, sending a clear message from the very first moment: You are seen. You are valued. You belong here.

He builds real relationships with students, encouraging punctuality and reinforcing the importance of daily attendance with care and respect. When students arrive late, he meets them with gentle reminders, not judgment, helping them reset and start the day strong. His consistency, positivity, and steady encouragement create a sense of trust that students feel immediately.

Because of Miguel, students show up every morning, without fail. His dedication helps motivate them to be present, engaged, and ready to learn, strengthening both school culture and attendance outcomes. The impact of his work is felt across campus, shaping successful days and a stronger school community.

Jordan is better because Mr. Miguel Barraza is at the gate, welcoming, encouraging, and championing students one connection at a time.

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Marisol Ibanez, Counselor at Lafayette

Attendance is the work, and Mariol Ibanez drives it. Each month, she analyzes attendance data to pinpoint what’s working, where students are slipping, and how to move the needle fast. She turns data into momentum, celebrating success while relentlessly motivating improvement across classrooms, grade levels, and entire school communities. From recognizing top-performing and most-improved classes to partnering with community organizations like Chick-fil-A to create meaningful incentives, Marisol has transformed attendance into a shared goal students actually want to show up for.

This year, she took it further by expanding student voice, giving classrooms the power to choose how they celebrate success. The result: stronger buy-in, real excitement, and a culture at Lafayette where attendance is visible, celebrated, and expected. Students reaching 97% or higher attendance are recognized through special assemblies that reinforce positive behavior and a sense of pride schoolwide.

When students struggle to attend, she goes to the root. Through hands-on, relationship-driven interventions, Marisol conducts attendance-focused home visits, wellness checks, and post-hospitalization follow-ups. She collaborates closely with therapists on cases involving trauma and school aversion, and connects families to vital mental health and housing resources. She has even implemented animal-assisted therapy groups to re-engage students who need additional support just to walk back onto campus.

Her work is intentional with families navigating long histories of institutional trauma, where trust must be rebuilt before attendance can improve. Through restorative SART meetings and individualized support plans, Marisol has helped drive attendance gains of over 30% in some of the most complex cases.

Her work proves what we know to be true: attendance is about belonging, trust, and showing students they matter every single day. Her impact is reflected in stronger data, it’s seen in restored family partnerships, renewed confidence, and students who feel supported, motivated, and ready to show up. Marisol, take a bow!

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Magnolia Barajas, Enrollment and Attendance Clerk at Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science

At Sato Academy, attendance is about care, connection, and consistency; and Magnolia Barajas fully embodies that. 

As Principal Ronnie Coleman puts it: “Magnolia Barajas is Sato’s enrollment and attendance clerk and she is AMAZING.”

When a student misses two or three days in a row without communication from home, Magnolia doesn’t wait, she reaches out.

“Hi, Mom. We haven’t seen your child for a couple of days now and we are getting concerned. Are they ill?”

She follows up just as thoughtfully with families of students who are out sick: “Hi. We talked a couple of days ago. I’m calling to see how your student is doing? Is he feeling better? When can we expect him back at school?”

To Magnolia, this work is personal. She checks on teachers daily when attendance hasn’t been taken, delivering what the faculty jokingly calls the “red folder of shame,” ensuring corrections are made and attendance records are signed and accurate.

She keeps copious records, providing the Student Intervention Team with detailed, actionable attendance data that helps drive timely student support. She also plays a key role in coordinating Sato’s tardy program, making sure students who arrive late receive short coaching sessions in progressive discipline, reinforcing the importance of being on time. Every semester, she helps bring joy and motivation through the school’s celebrated “No Tardy Party,” a pizza and ice cream celebration students work hard to earn.

After more than 20 years as a principal, Ronnie Coleman offers this powerful endorsement:

“I have never worked with a better, or more pleasant and fun, attendance clerk.”

Thank you, Ms. Barajas, for building trust, accountability, and belonging; one call, one record, and one caring conversation at a time.

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Veronique Martin, Counselor at Prisk

The moment Veronique Martin steps onto Prisk’s campus, she gets to work; motivating, coaching, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with students who need it most. For Prisk’s chronically absent students, Ms. Martin is a promise that someone sees them and believes they belong.

When a student isn’t in class, she picks up the phone, reaches out to families, and checks in because behind every absence is a story. And when progress is made, she celebrates it. From high-fives to gift certificates at local restaurants, Ms. Martin proudly recognizes each step forward among Prisk’s 34 chronically absent students, reinforcing that effort matters and growth is worth celebrating.

A steady and guiding force for students and staff alike, Ms. Martin’s deep commitment to belonging is a living example of the Adult Portrait in action. She understands that while  attendance is about showing up, it’s also about removing barriers.

And those barriers are real. Families face transportation challenges, illness, and even the loss of loved ones. Some lack the support systems needed to simply get a child to school each day. Ms. Martin meets these realities with persistence, empathy, and action, refusing to let circumstance stand in the way of a student’s success.

Through countless phone calls, conferences, and gentle, but consistent encouragement, Ms. Martin’s impact is unmistakable. Her work has helped Prisk achieve a 96-percent attendance rate, a testament to what happens when care is paired with commitment.

After 24 years with the District, colleagues often describe Ms. Martin as a “warm demander,” someone who leads with heart while holding high expectations. The Prisk community is deeply grateful for her leadership, as she is truly a champion for students.

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Patrice Rice, Assistant Principal at Cabrillo 

Recently, Assistant Principal Patrice Rice noticed a familiar name missing from attendance; a student who had been struggling to get to school consistently. Instead of letting the absence become another data point, Patrice picked up the phone. By lunchtime, she had spoken with the student’s family, learned what was standing in the way, and helped map out a plan to get the student back on track, starting the very next day.

This is how Patrice approaches attendance: personally, persistently, and with heart.

Whether it’s greeting students by name and asking how their morning went, checking in with a student who made it to class three days in a row after weeks of absences, or celebrating perfect attendance with a small but meaningful reward, Patrice makes showing up feel noticed and worth it. Students know she sees their effort, and that matters.

Behind the scenes, she works closely with staff to turn concern into action. She meets regularly with attendance teams to review patterns, identify students early, and coordinate outreach. One student might receive a handwritten note of encouragement. Another might get a quiet hallway conversation that says, “I’m glad you’re here today.” For families facing challenges, Patrice shows up with phone calls, home visits, and face-to-face conversations, making sure support feels real.

She celebrates progress loudly and consistently, while never losing sight of students who need extra encouragement. Her approach sends a clear message across campus: attendance is about belonging.

Because of Patrice’s leadership, more students are showing up, staying engaged, and feeling supported. And each day, one small moment at a time, she’s helping build a culture where students know that being present truly matters.

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Evelyn Ramirez, Tincher Counselor

Ms. Ramirez is instrumental in building a culture of positive attendance through a creative, relationship-centered approach that puts students first. She recently led a schoolwide attendance challenge that energized the entire campus, visiting classrooms every Monday with her celebration bell and awarding a rotating attendance trophy that quickly became a point of pride among classes. The friendly competition sparked excitement, boosted morale, and made showing up something students genuinely looked forward to. The challenge wrapped on a high note, with the winning class earning donut holes, an achievement celebrated with smiles, cheers, and schoolwide buzz.

Beyond the celebrations, Ms. Ramirez is deeply committed to the day-to-day work that drives lasting impact. She regularly checks in with students, partners closely with families, and reaches out to parents to address attendance concerns with care and intention. Her consistent dedication helps ensure students feel encouraged, families feel supported, and attendance is celebrated as a shared responsibility and a key driver of student success.

Through her leadership, Ms. Ramirez has redefined attendance as a reflection of belonging, trust, and care. Her work strengthens relationships across the school community and reinforces a powerful message: when schools invest in connection, students show up, and thrive! Salute to Ms. Ramirez.