LBUSD Employee Spotlight

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Edison Yann, Plant Supervisor at Lindsey Academy

If Lindsey Academy had a heartbeat, Edison Yann would be it.

From the moment you step onto the campus of Lindsey Academy, you can feel the difference, and that doesn’t happen by accident. Edison Yann, Plant Supervisor, takes immense pride in keeping the school spotless, welcoming, and full of life. Visitors rave about how clean and well-kept the campus is, and that first impression? That’s Edison, setting the standard every single day.

Edison doesn’t stop at clean hallways and polished spaces. He sets the mood, programming the school’s bells to play themed music throughout the day, turning ordinary transitions into moments that spark smiles, laughter, and school spirit. Students feel it. Staff feel it. The energy is contagious.

Need tech help? Edison’s got you. When frustration creeps in, he’s there, calm, capable, and ready to solve the problem so the day keeps moving. When it’s time to show school pride, Edison shows up big: running with the Relay Team, going all-out during spirit weeks, and cheering loudly at sporting events like Lindsey’s biggest fan (because he is)!

And here’s the kicker: Edison extends his impact beyond the gates. Through his connections and collaboration with MECCA, a local sports club, he’s helped secure financial contributions that support staff appreciation lunches and fundraisers. That’s not just service, that’s leadership and heart.

He’s a culture-builder. He’s a hype-man. He’s a Lindsey Falcon through and through. Ladies and gentlemen, his name is Edison Yann.

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Katie Stritzel, CARE Center School Psychologist

Katie builds what students need, in real time.

A fierce advocate for children, Katie brings vision, urgency, and entrepreneurial drive to her work every single day. When she sees a gap, she designs the solution and brings it to life with intention and heart. Her work centers on one goal: making sure students feel supported, safe, and ready to learn.

Years before Wellness Centers became standard practice, Katie created one at Lincoln Elementary, from the ground up! Using teacher and parent donations, along with support from the Rumba Grant, she transformed an idea into a vibrant, student-centered space built to meet critical social-emotional and mental health needs. The Wellness Center became a place of calm, care, and connection, rooted in dignity and access. The space quickly evolved into the heartbeat of student support. It provides a dedicated room for school psychology and counseling interns to deliver individual and group services, while also welcoming outside mental health agencies to work directly with students on campus, removing barriers and ensuring seamless access to care. 

Katie expands the Center’s reach by hosting Lunch Bunch sessions that foster belonging, ensuring students have access to food, and designing a calm-down area that helps students regulate emotions and return to learning focused and ready. The impact resonates across the campus, a clear reflection of the value, trust, and results her work generates.

Now, as a CARE Center school psychologist at Gant and Burcham, Katie’s leadership continues to drive innovation. She earned a prestigious grant from the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP), expanding access to evidence-based social-emotional learning curricula and proven mental health strategies. The grant also brings additional resources, calming tools, and fidgets that strengthen emotional regulation and elevate student well-being.

Katie builds systems of care that last. Her work is bold, intentional, and deeply human, and students thrive because of it. Thank you, Katie. Salute!

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Maria Enciso, Custodian, Long Beach School for Adults

Maria Enciso is a force of consistency, pride, and excellence at the Long Beach School for Adults. Every day, she shows up with purpose, taking ownership of the campus and holding it to the highest standard, but because it matters!

Maria works with intensity and intention from start to finish. She goes far beyond her job description, tackling tasks before they’re requested and addressing details others might miss. She approaches every responsibility with a positive attitude, never complains, and understands that a clean, well-maintained environment is essential to student success and staff well-being.

Her dedication lives in the details. In moments others might pause, Maria is still moving, meticulously removing years of accumulated gum from walkways by hand so the campus reflects care, respect, and pride. It’s patient, deliberate work, and it speaks volumes about how deeply she values the space our community shares.

With 6 years of service to LBUSD, she doesn’t seek recognition, yet her impact is undeniable. Her quiet commitment creates a campus that feels safe, welcoming, and dignified every single day. She is an unsung hero whose work often goes unseen but never unfelt.

Maria Enciso elevates the Long Beach School for Adults through her work ethic, integrity, and unwavering dedication to excellence. We are deeply grateful for her and for the example she sets with every step she takes across Long Beach School for Adults.

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Marcia Bonilla, Facilities Use Technician

Since joining Long Beach Unified School District in June 2021, at a pivotal moment as schools emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcia Bonilla has played a critical role in ensuring LBUSD facilities remain accessible, well-managed, and deeply connected to the community.

As Facilities Use Technician, Marcia oversees all public-use permits for outside organizations using LBUSD facilities. From sports leagues and faith-based organizations to film productions, music programs, recitals, and even district-led events, Marcia is the go-to expert. Her work requires constant coordination with school principals and staff, often in the evenings and on weekends, to ensure that facilities are used responsibly, equitably, and in alignment with district priorities.

Simply put, if you drive past a school on a weekend and see activity, families, and community members on campus, Marcia likely made that happen.

What sets Marcia apart is her proactive mindset. She anticipates problems and works tirelessly to find solutions. She collaborates closely with Long Beach Parks and Recreation and other external agencies, balances competing requests reasonably, and ensures processes are followed with integrity and accountability. She understands the importance of drawing clear boundaries, implementing first-come, first-served practices when appropriate, and holding others accountable while never losing sight of what’s best for students, schools, and the broader community.

During renovations or when access to fields and spaces is limited, Marcia has gone above and beyond to help user groups identify alternative locations, ensuring programs can continue without disruption. Her approach reflects a deep understanding of how integral LBUSD facilities are to the fabric of Long Beach, and how access to those spaces strengthens community trust and engagement.

Marcia is known for her professionalism, her reliability, and her heart. She does this work with care, integrity, and a genuine commitment to service. She is widely respected in the Community-Based Organizations and facilities-use community and is recognized as someone who gets the job done: thoughtfully, thoroughly, and with purpose.

LBUSD is fortunate to have Marcia Bonilla. Her dedication ensures that our schools are not only places of learning during the day, but vibrant hubs of connection, activity, and opportunity for the entire community.

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Barbara Palafox, Executive Secretary, School Support Services

Barbara Palafox is the kind of professional every organization hopes to have at its center: steady, thoughtful, and deeply committed to the people she serves. As Executive Secretary of School Support Services, Barbara approaches her role with a level of care, professionalism, and pride that is felt across the entire team.

Since stepping into her position in 2019, Barbara has become a trusted anchor for the department. She takes her work seriously and leads with intention, fostering a sense of unity, warmth, and collaboration that truly feels like family. Whether it’s recognizing staff for their hard work, celebrating milestones, or simply ensuring people feel seen and supported, Barbara consistently goes above and beyond to uplift those around her.

A significant part of Barbara’s role involves serving as a key point of contact for families. She handles a high volume of concerns and questions with patience, empathy, and professionalism, working diligently to ensure issues are addressed and support is provided so challenges can be diffused and resolved. Internally, she plays a critical role in keeping teams connected and informed, coordinating monthly meetings and participating in leadership discussions so information, training, and learning can be shared seamlessly across staff.

Barbara also brings invaluable institutional knowledge to her work. Having served under three Assistant Superintendents, she has witnessed and supported multiple leadership transitions. Through it all, she has remained a consistent, reliable presence, ensuring continuity, sharing historical context, and helping new leaders feel welcomed and supported as they step into their roles. Her ability to balance discretion, insight, and collaboration makes her an indispensable member of the School Support Services team.

Beyond her operational excellence, Barbara is a proud representative of her department and of LBUSD. She believes deeply that professionalism extends beyond the tasks we complete to how we present ourselves every day. Guided early on by a mentor who once held her position, Barbara learned that presentation, grooming, and attention to detail are powerful signals of professionalism. They set the tone, command respect, and reflect pride in one’s work. Barbara lives this philosophy daily, bringing polish, confidence, and excellence into every space she enters. While her sense of style is unmistakable and admired, it is ultimately an extension of who she is: a professional who holds herself and her work to the highest standard.

Barbara Palafox, we thank you for your service!

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Marcus Egland, School Intervention Specialist 

At the heart of Marcus Egland’s work is one constant: kids. A longtime member of the Long Beach Unified School District, Marcus is deeply respected for the genuine, lasting connections he builds with students; connections rooted in empathy, trust, and understanding.

Marcus takes a truly student-centered approach, meeting young people where they are and drawing from lived experience to relate in ways that feel real and meaningful. Students gravitate toward him because they feel seen, heard, and supported. His ability to turn everyday interactions into moments of growth and encouragement has made a lasting impact extending far beyond the classroom. It’s not uncommon for former students, even those from more than 10 years ago, to seek him out at graduations, football games, and community events, a powerful reflection of the relationships he builds and sustains over time.

Known for being approachable, personable, and calm, Marcus creates environments where students feel safe, respected, and valued. His steady presence and thoughtful engagement help students navigate challenges while building confidence and trust.

In addition to his work with students, Marcus plays an essential role in supporting the District’s Board of Education meetings. He assists with the public comment process by helping community members understand procedures, ensuring orderly participation, and clearly explaining Board policies and protocols. His professionalism and gentle demeanor help maintain a respectful, welcoming atmosphere where voices are heard, and meetings run smoothly.

Marcus Egland’s dedication to students first and to the broader LBUSD community exemplifies the heart of our district’s mission. Thank you, sir.

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Jandella Faulkner, Principal of Starr King 

Jandella Faulkner is a quiet force of leadership whose impact reaches far beyond her school campus. Now in her second year as principal, Jandella brings with her a remarkable depth of experience, perspective, and commitment to students, families, and the broader North Long Beach community.

Before stepping into school leadership, she spent 14 years at OCIPD, where she played a critical behind-the-scenes role in co-creating ELA lesson guides that supported instructional excellence across the District. Her work has helped shape curriculum and classroom practice for countless educators, often without fanfare, but with lasting impact.

Since stepping into her role as principal, she has been at the forefront of leadership in North Long Beach, raising awareness of the systemic challenges facing the community and actively working alongside city and community partners to drive meaningful solutions. Her leadership reflects a deep understanding that schools do not exist in isolation; they are part of a larger ecosystem that requires collaboration, advocacy, and trust.

At Starr King, Jandella continues to champion District initiatives that uplift families and strengthen school-community connections. She is a strong supporter of programs such as Sankofa Parent Village, ensuring that families feel welcomed, empowered, and meaningfully engaged in their children’s education. We are grateful for Ms. Faulkner’s unwavering commitment to students, families, and the North Long Beach community. 

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Everardo Avila, Pest Control Technician

For nearly three decades, Everardo Avila has been a trusted and indispensable member of LBUSD, serving as a Pest Control Technician since 1997. He brings a deep wealth of knowledge in his field, as well as a calm confidence, professionalism, and genuine kindness that colleagues immediately recognize and appreciate.

Known for his can-do attitude and ever-present smile, Everardo approaches every situation, whether addressing a minor pest concern or responding to more complex issues involving stray animals, with care, precision, and a commitment to safety. 

One moment that truly captures Everardo’s dedication involved accessing an extremely narrow opening at the base of a bungalow, an assignment that required both technical skill and careful maneuvering. When questions arose about whether the space would allow for safe entry and exit, Everardo calmly assessed the situation and confidently confirmed it could be done. His work ensured the space was thoroughly inspected and that no wildlife was present before the opening was sealed, demonstrating his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to doing the job right.