The first full week of March is designated as Classified Employee Appreciation Week. At Clackamas ESD alone, we have more than 50 types of classified jobs. These are people who touch every corner of our agency’s work and the districts we support, from providing hands-on help to teachers, children and families, to filling endless behind-the-scenes roles to keep buildings and teams safe, cared for and high-functioning.
This Classified Employee Appreciation Week, we’re highlighting five of our more than 250 classified staff members and contractors, to provide a peek into the diverse ways this large group of employees lives our mission of service. We appreciate our entire classified team and the meaningful work they do.
Larisa Strode is a functional therapeutic educational assistant in Clackamas Education Service District’s Heron Creek Therapeutic Program. Heron Creek serves K-12 students experiencing significant social, emotional, behavioral and academic challenges. Larisa works in one of Heron Creek’s kindergarten through third-grade classrooms supporting the teacher and students in reaching each student’s individualized education plan goals.
“At this age, they’re just so adorable. Even when they’re having a hard time, there’s so much growth that happens academically, behaviorally and socially,” says Larisa.
Larisa helps students when they have a question about their school work or need support to focus on their task, stay in their space, or use appropriate language. She checks in with students when they are upset and exhibit overly emotional or aggressive behavior.
Larisa believes building a solid relationship with her students is critical to mentoring them effectively.
“I want the students to feel like they’re heard. A lot of our students are so used to not being able to express their concerns and adults just telling them what to do,” Larisa explains. “I ask them what was going on, what they were thinking, and listen to all their concerns before saying, ‘Okay, I see that. I really like that even though you had a conflict, you were safe that whole time and kept your hands and feet to yourself. I want to thank you for doing that,’ to front-load the conversation with positivity, so they are open to hearing the harder things.”
Larisa has 25 years of experience in education. Growing up, she always wanted to be a kindergarten or first-grade teacher. Her mom was a teacher and a speech pathologist, which inspired her to work in group homes after high school. She found she enjoyed working with people experiencing disabilities, so she went to college to study special education.
After teaching for several years, Larisa realized the part of teaching she loved most was working closely with the students. The demands of leading a classroom, planning lessons and doing paperwork left little time for her to build one-on-one relationships with students, so she decided to return to working as an educational assistant. Larisa has been in her educational assistant role at Heron Creek for seven years now.
“Our students’ excitement at being able to be successful at something makes my heart grow three sizes. It’s so exciting to see,” Larisa says.
Though she is assigned to one classroom, Larisa is known across Heron Creek for her willingness to help her colleagues with everything from curriculum to organizing supplies. She also serves on Heron Creek’s safety and equity teams.
“We have a fantastic team. I love working with them!” Larisa gushes. “I want our staff to feel supported, so I’ll do whatever I can to help people bring their best selves.”
Larisa finds meaning in the opportunity to make a difference across the region at Heron Creek.
“We’re different from many schools in that we don’t just serve a neighborhood. We have kids from all over Clackamas County and beyond,” Larisa says. “So we’re able to make a positive impact in many communities.
“These kids are going to be out in the community. They’re going to grow up and become adults, and I want a better place for myself, for my own children, for these children, and for my coworkers. I like knowing that I’m a part of something bigger.”
