Snoqualmie Valley School District celebrates its staff through Friday with Classified School Employees Week, held March 10-14.

In Valley schools, more than 260 classified school employees serve students and their learning needs, as food service workers, custodians, secretaries, para-educators, bus drivers, mechanics, technology specialists, health care professionals and maintenance technicians.

Classified school employees are instrumental in nearly every aspect of education, the district stated in its announcement of Classified School Employees Week.

Employee responsibilities are vital to the education system by ensuring schools run efficiently, safely and effectively, and by contributing to the care and nurturing of children. Classified staff help maintain school buildings, equipment and grounds; provide secretarial assistance and administrative organization; transport children safely; prepare and serve nutritious meals; keep school facilities clean; assist teachers and students in the classroom; ensure safety on playgrounds and security in school buildings; support staff with technology needs; offer first aid to students as needed and keep parents and the community informed.

Some 50,000 classified school employees work with and help children in Washington’s public schools.