In a heartwarming first, the SCUC Education Foundation honors the often-overlooked staff who keep the district running, transforming an ordinary June day into a festive celebration of appreciation.
They crossed Elbel Road on foot on an unseasonably warm June morning and they came out of the offices behind the William Malish Building. Then more emerged from the Maintenance and Transportation buildings until the numbers became too big to ignore. But still they came. A caravan of cars continued to pull in from all directions in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District to gawk and to marvel at the front parking lot at Central Office. One huge food truck was joined by an ice cream truck, with music blaring from the speakers. Cornhole games were also set outside on the grass in the most extraordinary events the district has hosted in recent memory.
The inaugural Unsung Heroes Day, held on June 13, 2024 was the brainchild of the SCUC Education Foundation, all to thank the multitude of employees who work throughout the summer, often toiling in anonymity. Custodians, paraprofessionals, child nutrition employees, members of the Purchasing and Technology departments, Maintenance workers, transportation employees and everything in between were praised and thanked for their everyday dedication and excellence. On this day they were not regarded as the backbone of the district - they were the stars.
“We’ve always been appreciated,” said Glenda Dempsey, custodian at Schertz Elementary School. “But that just made us feel it more. They went all out for us.”
“They’ll hear ‘Thank you’ a lot but actually taking the time to pull them aside and say, ‘Hey guys, we actually want you to stop working and let us show you how much we care and appreciate you’ that’s what I really love about it,” said Jason Pounds, Director of Maintenance & Facilities.
Once inside, the employees were able to cool off and enjoy their meals in the Board Room. Lively chatter permeated while vendors were given booths to promote their services. While every Education Foundation member contributed to the success of the event, two trustees drew from an inexhaustible supply of energy to mastermind the big picture and execute the meticulous details.
“Amy Massey and TJ Mitchell were amazing,” said Summer Robledo, President-elect of the Education Foundation. “They did a lot of the organizing, pulled together the theme, got decorations and games, found the vendors, scheduled the food trucks and worked tirelessly to make it happen.”
When their guests’ hunger was satiated, Foundation members held a prize giveaway with the tickets handed to them upon their arrival. A 60-inch television was the big prize, and the original winning ticket belonged to Sgt. Martin Treviño of the Schertz Police Department but turned it down. A second drawing resulted in the winning numbers for Liliana Arevalo, custodian at Samuel Clemens High School. 
“I remember when I walked in there,” Arevalo said. “I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m gonna win with just one ticket.’” After returning to finish her shift, Arevalo received a call from Kumari Early, her supervisor, informing her she had won the TV set. “I said, ‘Stop playing’ and she said ‘No, you actually won the TV.’” Her children use it during the day while she watches her telenovelas when they go to bed.
Plans are already underway for a sequel next summer. Even though the event was nearly flawless, observations were made to improve the speed of service for meals and acquiring more shaded spaces for attendees. However, the respect handed out to those who work behind the scenes to make SCUC a destination district needs no improvement.
“I was really surprised how many of the maintenance side came out and how much they enjoyed it,” said Pounds. “I thought they (the Foundation) knocked it out of the park.”
“It made us feel a little more appreciated,” said Arevalo, whose mother is the day custodian at Green Valley Elementary and who has numerous friends serving in a similar capacity at other district schools. “It felt like we were getting a little bit more recognition.”
In the end, the SCUC Unsung Heroes will remember the grand gesture, along with the simplest of pleasures. “It was a treat to show appreciation for us,” said Michael Bradley, a custodial floor specialist. Without skipping a beat, he added, “The food was good and the ice cream was good, too.”
The SCUC Education Foundation would like to thank the list of generous corporate and community sponsors who made the Unsung Heroes program a success: Steven Garza, State Farm; Next Level Urgent Care; RBFCU; Physicians Premiere; Schertz Cibolo Emergency Clinic; Paloma Luxury Apartments; First United Bank; Schlotzky’s; PinStack Bowling; Top Golf; Chicken N Pickle; Schertz Bank & Trust; GVEC; Counseling Services of Carla Barnes, LPC; and Brandi Martin, LPC; HEB of Cibolo; Ernie’s Patio Bar; Champion Floors; Jordan Ford; Linebarger Attorneys At Law; Bellagio Nail Lounge; Quarter Moon Plumbing & AC; Leapfrog; Slim Chickens; Tri-County Chamber of Commerce; AA Plumbing, Heating & Cooling; and Mad Women Marketing.