Page 24 - MC Top Work 2021

Catasauqua the pandemic shifted both academ- she takes a lot of pride in nourishing Ciocca
thatfamily.
ics and priorities at schools around
from Page 15 theworld.Despitetheuncertaintyof “The team in the cafe, they’re from Page 16
the situation, unwavering leadership mysecondfamily.We’veworkedfora
“You see the principal [Adam at each of the district’s schools made long time together, and when people forhelpthatIwasimpedingthemfrom
Schnug] come in here and he talks employees feel safe, valued and, that come to work here, we leave every- doing something. The last six to eight
to you. All of the teachers talk to you together,theycouldadapttothe“new thingelseatthedoorandweconcen- months, I have been the one that the
like you’re part of the family. You can normal.” trate on what’s going on in here. We new people have come to for training.
talk to them about anything that’s “Our third grade team has joke around together, and we have They text me for assistance. It’s come
happeningintheschool.Andoverthe always been close, but having to a great time while we’re getting the fullcircle.It’sagreatfeeling.”
summertime, you saw Mr. Spengler, come together during those virtual platesreadyforthekids,”Safadisaid. Strausser said his outgoing person-
Mr.Schnug,andtheprincipalsfromall days meant a lot because we were “They can come in here and grab ality suits his position as the face of the
ofourschoolscameouttohelpdistrib- always there to support each other. breakfast, or they can eat a meal and service department. He sees custom-
utefoodforallofthekids,”Safadisaid. Wedivideduptheworktokeepour come back and get something else if ers from the time they drop off the
“WhenIsawthis,Ithought,‘Iloveit. stress levels down, and we really they’restillhungry.Wedoourbestto vehicle until completion. His goal is to
That’s the way it should be.’ It makes cametogetherasateam,”saidKeks, keepthekidsfullthroughtheday.” create a normal, conversational situa-
mereallyproudtobedoingthisjob.” who also found a silver lining in According to Spengler, who has tioninwhichthecustomercanexpress
“You can tell by the number of the unexpected. “The technology been in his role for 18 years, it’s the concernswithoutbeingrushedaway.
people who leave — because nobody resources that I’ve been shown and energy and positivity of people like Strausser said he makes sure the
leaves,” said Lisa Tkach, administra- that I’ve been using this year, it has Safadi and Kek that makes every day customer’s concerns are conveyed to
tive assistant to the superintendent. made the learning experience a lot at Catasauqua Area School District the technicians and keeps the custom-
“It’s leadership. It’s the atmosphere more fun and a lot more engaging feellikeawell-oiledmachine. ers informed throughout the process.
that[Spengler]fosters.” for the kids, and it’s something that “We’re all working together as His supervisors, he said, have been
Spengler, however, gives full I just want to continue to imple- membersofthesameteam.Wemight supportiveandencouragehimtomake
credit to the school board for allow- ment in my classroom. So, I think have different roles and responsibili- decisions.
ingeveryonetogettheworkdonethat thepastyearhashelpedmegrowas ties, but the bottom line is that we’re “Iamgratefulforhavingtheopportu-
theywanttogetdone,withoutgetting aneducator.” all working together,” Spengler said. nity to pick myself back up,” he said. “I
caught up in other agendas. That ForSafadi,whogrewaccustomed “We’re all in it for the same thing — thoughtIwasgettingclosetocementing
transparency,hesaid,iskeytoallow- to seeing the same smiling faces day we’re here to do what’s best for the myselfto[mypreviousemployer].Ifelt
ingeveryonetodotheirjobstothebest in and day out, the return to school kids, and for our community. We’re solost.Itwasveryscary.”
oftheirability,andtounderstandhow was a welcome one. Throughout her allonboardwiththat.” SarahBrownhasbeenwithCioccafor
muchtheworktheydomatters. 12 years with the district, her team nearlyfouryears.Shealsoishappywith
Never was transparency more and the entire Catasauqua commu- Shannon Sigafoos is a freelance the company’s welcoming and encour-
necessarythanoverthelastyear,when nity have become like family — and writer for The Morning Call. agingatmosphere.Shehasmovedupto
warrantyadministratorafterstartingas
aservicecashierforabout18months.
“When I was in for an interview,”
Children “They love tolearn,they torwhostartedasafamilychildcare the Coopersburg resident said, “they
said there would be an opportunity for
specialist21yearsago,agreed,saying
from Page 17 lovetoexplore,they want the organization supports employ- growth and to learn new things, which
toknowso much.” ees maintaining a healthy work- Iwasdefinitelyinterestedin.Theenvi-
frombirthtoage5andtheirfamilies. life balance while growing in their ronmentisprettygreat.Igetalongvery
CommunityServicesbeganasaHead —HollyLevan,aCSCteacheratthe careers. wellwithmyco-workers.Management
StartprograminEastonin1965aspart ColonialEarlyLearningCenterin “When I started working here, isveryunderstandingandhelpful.Weall
ofPresidentLyndonJohnson’sWaron Bethlehem I was a single mom going back to worktogetherasateam.”
Poverty.ItwasheadquarteredinBeth- school,” Gambone said. “I’ve had StrausserandBrownalsoareproudof
lehem for many years before moving talented,dedicatedteachersandother many opportunities for advance- Ciocca’scommitmenttothecommunity,
totheDonleyChildren’sCampusnear employees.Tothatend,theorganiza- ment,forprofessionaldevelopment.” particularlypets,andtheearth.
theAllentownStateHospitalin2001. tion offers competitive salaries and Levan serves on one of two advo- The COVID-19 pandemic put a
With 401 employees — including excellenthealthcarebenefits,aretire- cacy committees for employees, temporary damper on much of the
teachers, bus drivers, classroom staff mentpackage,generousleaveandpaid which convey staff concerns to CSC company’s charity work. But there is
and family support partners — the days off for holidays, employees said. leadership, giving them a voice and a anexcitementamongtheemployeesto
groupserves22,000childrenandtheir CSCgetsaregularmarketanalysisto pathforsolvingproblems. returntothoseendeavors.
families annually in Northeast Penn- makesureitremainscompetitive. “We just bring to our director Some pre-COVID events included a
sylvania. Thenonprofitalsoencouragesstaff concerns or issues that our teachers 5KrunfortheLeukemia&Lymphoma
While the pandemic has affected to further their education and helps are facing,” Levan said. “That allows Society; a campaign called Run for
all segments of society, Molly withthoseefforts. us to come up with the solutions of Woods, benefitting a Bucks County
Driscoll, director of communica- Commareri had an associate’s how we’re going to fix the problem mental health facility; a bowling fund-
tions&advancementforCommunity degree when she started working and to try it out. They take what we raiserforalocalcharity;andannualpet
Services, said the staff realizes that for CSC two decades ago. To enable say and make a change. If they can’t, adoptioneventswithalocalradiostation
many of the families they serve don’t hertogoonforherbachelor’sdegree theyexplainwhytheycan’t.” andafoodtruckonsite.
havetheflexibilitythatallowsparents in early education, Community Ultimately, Community Services’ When Anthony Acevedo came to
tostayhomefromtheirjobsandwork Servicespaidforherbooksandsome missionofnurturingthedevelopment Ciocca more than two years ago, he
remotely. expenseswhilealsoconnectingherto andeducationofpreschoolersmakes was looking for a reason not to stay.
“Knowingthattheyhavesomeone
the United Way of the Lehigh Valley,
theirjobsrewarding,employeessay.
Instead, he found a slew of reasons to
The Morning Call intheircornerhereatCSCcanspeak which gave her aid toward tuition at explore,theywanttoknowsomuch,” stickaround.Hemovedfromtheinter-
“They love to learn, they love to
East Stroudsburg University. Thanks
volumesinhelpingthemgetthrough
netdepartmenttothesalesfloor,where
Levansaid.
totheaid,plusCSCeffortstoarrange
hewantedtobefromthestart.
challengingtimes,”Driscollsaid.
Plus, the Community Services
NowtheSalisburyTownshipresident
The organization has demon-
for some required college classes
hasnoplanstoleave.
strateditscommitmenttogivingstaff
model of working with the families,
nearby at Northampton Community
“Car dealerships have a really bad
ing them safe, employees said. Holly
thegreatersuccessofboth,Levansaid.
elor’sdegreefromESU.
| the help they need while also keep- College,Commareriearnedherbach- as well as the small children, leads to reputation for being by yourself and
havingnosupport,”hesaid.“Cioccahas
Levan, a CSC teacher at the Colonial
“Withoutthehelpandsupportfrom
Commareri agreed: “I really
Thursday, June 24, 2021 said Community Services went to further my education while working visionofhelpingthechildrensucceed and I work with great people. When I
connecttotheirphilosophyandtheir
EarlyLearningCenterinBethlehem,
beennothinglikethat.Ihaveagreatboss
CSC I would have never been able to
full-time with a young child at the
started in the internet department,
inlifeandlearning.Ilikethefactthat
greatlengthstomakesureclassrooms
my boss at the time was so passionate
we’realsohelpingthefamiliesaswell.
time,” she said. “It takes a village and
werecleanandsafe,andeveryonehad
aboutthecompany.Shewasthereason
CSC is the village I am grateful to be
…We’reworkingwiththefamiliesto
personalprotectiveequipmentwhen
the teachers and children returned
Istayedaround.”
helpthemteachathome.”
partof.
afterperiodsofremotelearning.
“Theytrytohelpyoukeepchalleng-
Key to the Community Services
Beth Gambone, a CSC administra-
mission is attracting and retaining ingyourself,”shesaid.“Theyvalueus.” Margie Peterson is a freelance writ- Mandy Housenick is a freelance writ-
er for The Morning Call.
er for The Morning Call.
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