Hermosa Beach paraeducator Tracy Pekasi urges others to join district

Tracy Pekasi, a paraeducator with the Hermosa Beach School District, described her three years with the district and urged others to consider working there, citing personal reward and opportunities for growth.

Pekasi said her "favorite thing about being a paraeducator is the opportunity to work with our kids and to help turn a light switch on and make an illumination for them." She told listeners she has supported students from second grade through eighth grade and emphasized the different needs of younger and older pupils: "There's magic with the little kids because they still believe in magic and with the older ones getting them ready for the next journey for high school is amazing."

Pekasi presented the district as a small, supportive workplace that encourages paraeducators to expand their roles. "If I was to tell somebody why to come and join us here at the Hermosa Beach School District, I would say because this is a district with heart," she said, adding that staff "encourage growth" and invite paraeducators "to do more and to bring more to the party."

Closing her remarks, Pekasi shared brief personal details to underscore community ties — she said she performs karaoke at the Moose Lodge and participates in an improv club — and thanked listeners "for the opportunity to be in the spotlight."