A legion of support staff and specialists are instrumental in the day-to-day educational process and in meeting the needs of students, often with little fanfare as they go about their jobs.

Long-time Orestimba High School library media clerk Lori Machado is one such employee who goes the extra mile to help students.

Machado is one of 27 classified school employees from throughout Stanislaus County being honored this week by the Stanislaus County Office of Education and the Association of California School Administrators as “Employees Making a Difference.”

“I’m honored and overwhelmed to be receiving recognition for something I love to do, working with kids and making a difference in their lives,” reflected Machado.

Of  all the things a person can give their time to, helping and mentoring kids, which she does through her job and volunteering with Interact, is truly worthwhile and enriching, she told Mattos Newspapers.

Machado typically gets an early start to her day at OHS.

Her workday doesn’t officially begin until 7:30 a.m. but most mornings she is ready to greet students by 7.

“There are students here that early and it’s important the library is accessible to them,” she explained. Although her daily hours were reduced to 7.5 due to budget concerns, Machado willingly gives her time to make sure the school library is open when kids need it. That means before school, during both lunch periods and after school in addition to regular school hours.

The Orestimba library has become a popular gathering point and resource for students.

Students want to be there; they know the library is a safe and welcome place for them.

“You can add books and all the stuff you want to the building but unless the kids feel welcome and supported inside, the library is just a place and the kids won’t want to come in and use it,” Machado said.

Machado began working for the school district in1985 as a special education instructional aide at Orestimba. In 1989 she transferred to the library media clerk position following the retirement of Ruth Gaddy. At that time, Orestimba was the only school in the district offering a staffed library - but it was in need of some upgrades and improvements. Machado, who had visited the library with students while working as an instructional aide, looked forward to taking on the challenge and dug right in her first year.

Machado and a group of volunteers weeded out over 3,000 outdated volumes, some with publication dates as far back as 1898, and began the task of replacing them with current volumes.

She credits English teacher Catherine Quittmeyer with writing successful grant applications to fund many of the new purchases.

Through the years, the inventory of books has quadrupled from approximately 6,000 in 1990 to the current 26,000.

The resource books have expanded to include science and technology, and the library possesses a complete set of textbooks currently used in the classrooms for students in temporary need of one for use while in the library or in class that day. “There’s no excuse to not have their textbook now. Students can check one out for the day if they forgot theirs at home,” Machado noted.

The technological advancement of the library is another area which Machado has spent many hours helping develop.

When she first stepped into the position over 20 years ago, the library was still using the card system. By her second year, the Follett system was put into place and the library was computerized.

Shortly thereafter, a student computer lab was introduced and as computers and the school’s technology use developed the lab grew with it.  “We’ve blasted the barriers with technology,” Machado pointed out. Students can come in and prepare a full power point presentation, do research, prepare their portfolios...whatever they need to accomplish for their classes.

Keeping the materials as fresh and relevant as possible is important to Machado who is constantly looking for ways to improve the school library.

Each year she tackles a new project. Some years those endeavors are huge - such as the installation of new shelves throughout the facility a few years ago.

Other years, it’s painting, getting new tables and chairs or simply redecorating. “It’s about the students and making their school library a safe place they want to come in to and read, do research or use the computers,” she said.

Machado is no stranger to going above and beyond for students at OHS. She has volunteered as the Interact Advisor at the school for many years, a position she thoroughly enjoys.

“The concept of the club, service to the community, is important for the students to learn before they leave here,” Machado reflected, and she has gladly taken on the position of their advisor for the last eight or so years.

Once the kids experience community service, whether it is delivering daffodils to residents at San Luis Care Center, collecting and organizing food for the annual food drive, serving and talking with the homeless at the Salvation Army, helping build a home with Stanislaus Habitat for Humanity or helping with the Delta blood drives held four times a year in the OHS library, students realize how important their service to others is and that they are able to make a difference in someone else’s life. “I do love being a part of Interact and bringing these opportunities to our students,” Machado expressed.

The awards program honoring the dedicated classified employees was held Wednesday evening in Modesto.

Superintendent Rick Fauss said Machado is well-deserving of the recognition.

“Lori is very good at being a library clerk, but she does so much more than that,” he commented. “She is the Interact advisor, handles the tobacco intervention program and is on several school committees. Her pleasant disposition is warm and welcoming to the staff and students who work with her.”