Milpitas Unified's Classified Employee of the Year

Michael Ng starts his shift as a custodian at Rancho Middle School at 6:45 a.m. And after a day of work, he has been known to tutor students in algebra.

The Homework Club is one of the places where you might find Ng after school. He also volunteers for the Saturday tutoring program, Advancing Latino/Minority Mathematics Achievement, which takes places 10 mornings in a school year.

Ng is Chinese but grew up in the Philippines, where he was considered a minority. He said he held back in school, because he was treated differently by other students.

"We have a program at Rancho with minorities," he said. "I know how they feel now, so I will try to help them."

Ng has worked at Rancho for six years.

Assistant Principal Tony Frascone said Ng also speaks Mandarin (Chinese) and a Filipino dialect, so he can communicate with students he tutors who speak those languages.

Frascone said Rancho is proud to have him on their staff.

"He's just one of the most outstanding, humble guys I ever met," he said. "The children really respect him."

The Milpitas Unified School District announced the districtwide Classified Employee of the Year at the awards ceremony on Monday at the high school. Ng was selected among 18 other classified employees who have received recognition on their own campuses.

They are Tamara Robertson of Burnett Elementary, Dorinda Jamison of Curtner Elementary, Bonnie Lang of Pomeroy Elementary, Kumi Lingle of Randall Elementary, Rodolfo Ortiz of Rose Elementary, Brian Soria of Sinnott Elementary, Tina Tiopan of Spangler Elementary, Nancy Sigsbee of Weller Elementary, Sally Minor of Zanker Elementary, Michael Ng of Rancho Middle School, Alexis Petersen of Russell Middle School, Susan Crone of Milpitas High, Jane McGowan of Milpitas High, Jocelyn Pahimulin of Adult Ed, Janice Yung of Business Services, Aurora Nojadera of Child Development Center, Mary Ellen Maggi of Correctional Facilities, Lurie Orosz of Educational Services, Debbie Sey of SNS/Warehouse, and Sean LaRussa of Technology Services.