Classified Staff Spotlight!
Romelle Austin
A Safe Place for Students
“Hey, Mr. Ro!” You might hear that greeting on the playground as Romelle Austin mingles with students. He loves to see his students in the elementary school SEAS program interacting with other students of all ages and grades at recess and lunch. He enjoys playing a little basketball with them, too.
The SEAS program provides specialized social-emotional and academic support, in a therapeutic setting, for students who might need a little extra help. Mr. Austin, a Behavioral Intervention Instructional Assistant, gives students that help. He supports the SEAS students during their General Education classes, which consists of STEM, Physical Education, and Music. And he monitors SEAS students' well-being during their non-instruction time – before school, recess, lunch, and after school pick-up. Most importantly, Mr. Austin recognizes that each student’s needs are different and that there is no “one size fits all” approach to learning. So he works to listen to them and to forge personal bonds with each student. He creates a safe place where he can meet students where they are.
When he was a teenager, Mr. Austin volunteered at his church’s elementary school. Through that experience he found that he loved working with kids. He thought that he might want to coach or engage in other forms of outreach to youth. He always wanted to give back, providing students the tools for reaching their full potential.
Starting with a job as a campus monitor at Calavera Hills Elementary School a few years ago, Mr. Austin enjoyed supervising the kids on the playground. When he was hired for his current position in the SEAS program he realized that it was exactly what he had been looking for. “It’s challenging,” says Mr. Austin. “You must be patient and willing to go the extra mile, but the work is its own reward.” He adds, “I definitely learn more from our students than they learn from me.” With a nine-year-old at home, Mr. Austin readily understands the importance of developing positive relationships with students.
Dr. Melissa Bustamante, the SEAS program teacher, emphasizes that “it is important for us to develop trust and establish positive relationships in order for our students to succeed academically and emotionally.” She says, “Our team, including Mr. Ro, Ms. Rhonda, Ms. Rocky, and Ms. Letty, share the same goals and aspirations for our students, helping implement high expectations while connecting with students on a personal level.”
Kimberly Fuentes, Director of Elementary Education and Mr. Austin’s former principal at Calavera Hills Elementary School, recalls that on a Spirit Dress-up Day, when students dress as their favorite or most inspirational adult, one student came to school dressed as Mr. Ro. “He has a gracious heart,” she says. “And, although the day sometimes may throw a curveball at him, he is always patient, and always a great teammate.” She sums it up this way: “The kids love him, and they know that he cares about them.”
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Carlsbad Unified School District
Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.net
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000