The Heart of Visions: A Spotlight on the Human Resources Department
At Visions, there is a group of seven women who make up our Human Resources Department – a Director, two analysts, and four assistants. Sometimes they’re Barbies, other times, they’re cowgirls. They’re Soup Day chefs and Santa’s little elves, and most significantly, they are the people behind the people and the support system of our organization.
“My role involves overseeing the key functions of the department, including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, compliance, health benefits, and performance management,” explains Donna Glenn, Director of Human Resources. “My team is exceptional in their field, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Together, we collaborate to foster a positive workplace culture by organizing activities and events that engage and support our team members.”
As a department centered around recruitment, hiring, benefits, and more, Human Resources is truly unique in its operations. While our other departments – Enrollment and Student Services, Ordering and Assessments – primarily support our students, HR’s main focus is supporting our staff.
“My top responsibilities are credentialed staff and teacher recruitment along with onboarding teachers, counselors, social workers and classified staff. It’s really fun to meet all of the new hires and watch them grow in the organization!” says Hillori Dalton, Human Resources Assistant.
Our other Human Resources Assistant Jamie Snyder supports Hillori in this work, providing job advertisement, applicant screening, interview preparation and other important event coordination.
“I coordinate Visions’ annual Career Fairs and University Career Fair, FRISK and ACSA training for managers, and new hire StrengthFinder assessments,” says Jamie.
HR is also responsible for tracking important staff information and remaining in compliance with state regulations, a body of work that Administrative Assistant Terry Sovulewski is heavily involved in.
“My core responsibilities include tracking TB and credential expirations, assigning and tracking mandatory training, employment verifications, and updating policies and procedures in the employee handbook,” says Terry.
While a large focus of this team’s work is on recruiting and hiring, there is also an emphasis on supporting staff after they’ve joined the organization.
“I am the benefits point of contact for current employees in regards to health benefits plans during open enrollment, their new hire period, or if they experience a life event,” explains Giuliana Carillo, Human Resources Analyst. “I also help administer the Leave of Absence program and assist employees who resign or retire from the organization.”
“My core responsibilities are credential analysis, staffing, salary placement, leave balances, leave of absences, policies and procedures, and employee communications,” adds Cruz Ambrosini, Human Resources Analyst.
Administrative Assistant Dao Gordon’s position is unique in that she supports both the HR Department and the Superintendent’s Office. Her body of work, along with HR tasks like hiring, onboarding, and managing our Visions All-Stars program with her team, includes overseeing our Alumni Hall of Fame, an initiative launched this year to recognize and celebrate our distinguished alumni.
“The Alumni Hall of Fame program recognizes and honors our outstanding alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and/or personally. The program was launched last August on the occasion of Visions’ 25th Anniversary,” Dao explains. “We believe that Visions alumni have made great impacts to our communities over 25 years, and they deserve to be honored.”
Leading & Learning
Although many of the department’s practices are tried and true, and consistently indicate why we often have no vacancies at the beginning of the school year and little turnover at the end, the team is always looking for ways to improve. Whether it be bolstering our hiring efforts, expanding our benefits, or offering supplemental education opportunities for staff, HR maintains a strong focus on getting 1% better every day.
“Our HR team truly embodies the ‘1% better every day’ motto through our continuous to growth, learning, and improvement. Whether it’s refining our processes, enhancing employee experiences, or staying updated on the latest HR trends, we are always looking for ways to make incremental improvements,” says Donna. “We encourage open feedback and actively seek our opportunities to streamline workflows, support our staff more effectively, and enhance our organizational culture. By focusing on small, consistent improvements, we make a big impact over time, creating a more efficient, responsive, and positive environment for everyone.”
Not only does this continuous improvement culture help our staff develop, but it also helps drive HR’s own commitment to growth and learning.
“I really enjoy being part of the HR team. I’ve been learning a lot from all team members, and I really appreciate it,” says Dao. Hillori adds, “I feel very lucky to work in my department! I am always learning something new from my team.”
A Passion for People
The nature of HR’s work is to look outward to support our staff and organization. However, their internal bonds as coworkers, collaborators, and cheerleaders for our Visionaries are just as strong.
“The HR team is amazing. Each personality and strength fits together to make the most collaborative team I have ever worked with,” says Cruz. “We are here to offer support to employees no matter what they are going through and strive to be a valuable resource to employees.”
“I really enjoy being part of the HR team,” Jamie adds. “I feel we have a quick turn around to help employees receive the information and services needed to succeed.”
“I’m so fortunate to be working alongside some of the hardest working HR people I’ve ever worked with,” says Giuliana. “I love being able to work with and support the greatest influencers in our students’ lives!”
What Giuliana said rings true – one of the strongest pillars of this department’s work is supporting and uplifting our people. With good staff and teachers come successful students and a strong culture, each a crucial component of Visions’ quarter-century of success.
At Visions, we understand that life is full of significant moments – from birth of a child to the challenges of a wedding, a divorce, or even the loss of a loved one. Throughout all of these times, our HR team is a constant source of support for our staff. HR is often the first place employees turn when they face personal or professional difficulties, and the work that they do is nothing short of incredible,” Donna shares. “Our HR team provides a steady presence and a listening ear during some of the most challenging moments in life, all while maintaining a positive and compassionate attitude. Their ability to offer guidance with empathy, care, and professionalism is a testament to their strength and dedication. I am extremely proud of the HR team for their unwavering commitment to supporting our employees, no matter the circumstance.”
