You come outside for PE, stepping onto the football field as your eyes scan for the bags of equipment. Suddenly, you spot a petite frame carrying an enormous bag, and it’s none other than Connie Sanchez. But instead of anticipating which football you grab, you are met with the biggest and brightest smile from her despite the heavy bags weighing her down. Even if you’ve known Sanchez for all four years, or simply just met her for the first time, everyone can agree that her greetings make anyone’s day better.
Retiring after 38 years of service to Walnut High School, Connie Sanchez’s positive attitude and work ethic are just some qualities that staff and students will miss.She is considered to be one of the longest-serving staff members at WHS, joining the WHS family in 1987 as her first ever job. With the celebration of her retirement, Sanchez looks back at her journey coming to WHS and the importance of community and connection, things she values deeply.
“It has been an enjoyable many years. It has been an honor to work with great kids, wonderful staff and to see people come in as ninth graders and leave as mature seniors. There is no day that goes by that I do not feel unappreciated. The kids are well-mannered, and they make me feel welcome. They offer help almost all the time, and I’m grateful that I can serve the kids and that they appreciate what I do for them,” Sanchez said.
Serving the WHS motto, “Kids First”, to heart, Sanchez built countless bonds with students and co-workers she regularly interacted with every day. Which her fellow co-worker and long-time friend, PE teacher and baseball coach Paul Acosta, noticed daily when working with her.
“She’s an awesome human being. She’s got a big heart. When you take into account the way she works, you see the pride she takes in her job. No matter what position you’re in—a grounds worker, a PE teacher, a custodian, a principal, or a superintendent— it doesn’t matter, it comes down to the pride they take in what they do, and Connie took pride in her job,” Acosta said.
In a celebratory ceremony hosted at WHS on Dec. 16 which honored Sanchez’s retirement, Acosta spoke about his time working with her and their close relationship as friends and coworkers.
“I have a ton of respect for her. She’s proud of the school and how she does her job. And you can see that. I’ve worked with Connie Sanchez for my entire career, which is 22 years, and I knew Ms. Sanchez, when I was a kid. We’re close, and it’s almost like a mother-son relationship. I was friends with her younger son and I would have sleepovers at their house,” Acosta said.
Before her employment at WHS, Sanchez shared her story of growing up, knowing deep down that she would help nurture and surround herself with children. This pushed her in the future to choose a profession in the education department, where she could spread her compassion.
“Since I was very young, I helped my family in many ways. My father was a farmer, and so we had to help with farming and babysitting my nine siblings. I babysat, took care of [many families’ children] and tried to make things work out every day with my family,” Sanchez said.
Once Sanchez had her own family, she later decided to earn a living to provide for them. Although she has never had a previous job or any experience, she applied for a position in the athletic department at WHS, and immediately felt at home.
“I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom for 15 years, and [while] my children were growing up, I decided I needed to help out with the income. It was an easy thought to work a job [that works with] kids,” Sanchez said.
Despite Principal Jamie Norell only working at WHS for one year, she knew Sanchez when she was a high school student. Her father, Dr. Ken Gunn, was the principal when Sanchez was hired and she was close with both Dr. Gunn and his wife.
“I’ve grown up on this campus as my father [was in charge of] the school, and Ms. Sanchez was a staff member here from the beginning. Every time I would come back for an event [at school], she was always constantly smiling,” Norell said.
With so many positive interactions and stories about Sanchez, Norell recalled a memory she treasures, which illustrated the selfless nature she has.
“We were at a preseason basketball game and there was a battery that was missing. We were saying it was fine. But, after her work day, she drove to the market, purchased the battery with her own money and came back because she wanted to make sure that we had the battery for the competition,” Norell said.
Although many staff members and students will miss her presence on the football field and on campus, Sanchez sees her retirement as a new chapter in her story that is waiting for her to experience.
“Staff and students have become my family away from home. It seems like I can’t leave [WHS and the people here], but it’s time to try something different, to find out what I want to be when I grow up with the time I have,” Sanchez said.
Leaving a lasting impression on the school, staff members have supported the decision to name the girls’ locker room after her, as an ode to her treasured personality to the Mustang family. While details of the process and approval for this request is not confirmed yet, her legacy at WHS will never be forgotten.
“The process [started] when a few individuals came saying [we should name the building after her]. So we have a group that meets on Monday mornings that has representatives from all areas of campus, and they unanimously voted to pursue it. They all explained her impact on campus and who Sanchez was as a person that [deserved this recognition],” Norell said.
With her time at WHS finished, Sanchez was a role model for staff and students alike. Understanding the value of quality education and wanting the best for students, she teaches students not only academically but also emotionally.
“If we do our best and if I do my best to make [WHS] a healthy, happy and comfortable place for for students to learn, they will be more motivated to study harder and focus on their studies. I think that’s really important, because as a senior citizen, these graduates from WHS will be helping me continue my health. [Many] will be bankers and doctors, lawyers and caregivers—and I will definitely need them—I want to work hard to make them the best they can be,” Sanchez said.
