Faces of LCAP
Meet your Clovis Unified LCAP Team

Dan Pantoja

Student Relations Liaison

Pinedale Elementary and Kastner Intermediate

What is Your Current Role?
My role as a Liaison at Pinedale and Kastner is to build relationships with my students. I also keep my parents and school staff informed on how their students are doing academically and emotionally in their life. Students will share with us deep conversations because we have built trust with the students and they know we genuinely care and are here for them. I also coach sports after school where I continue to build relationships with students, parents and staff. We also provide academic help during school. I will push into class and help transition students with their schoolwork. We have monthly meetings where we share a topic and have conversation with our transition students. We check grades and attendance weekly. When needed, I meet with students to create a plan to improve their grades and attendance. I am teaching my students accountability. Some students respond right away, and others need more time because of events happening in their life. SOAR helps many students who normally would not have a voice.

Can You Walk Us Through Your Typical Day?

First, I check my emails, then help with the crosswalk. After everyone goes back to class, I push into classes and check on my students. Then I support my students with structured play. This is an activity we facilitate when kids are having a tough time during recess. I hang out with them, teach them social skills, and model appropriate behavior. After that, I will call students in individually that are on my caseload to check how they are doing socially, emotionally, academically and their attendance. At the end of the day, I will put in my visits in Q. After school, I coach sports and after sports I make home calls as needed. Then I go home.

I am a preacher’s son. I love to coach wrestling at Pinedale Elementary. My family and I have lived in this community since the 60’s . I am a proud grandfather of 14 grandkids. I have been with my wife for 29 years. I like to paint houses, and in the voice of Chris Berman, “Go Raiders!”

What Has Been Your Most Memorable Moment?

There's so many, I'll just share a few. I am the good cop on campus, so all day kids greet me from K-8th grade all day. I have had many kids tell me thank you for being there for me during a difficult time in their life, for encouraging and believing in them and giving them hope. When I see kids grow in their academics and confidence as they journey through school, those are huge wins for me. At the end of the day, I just try my best to make people feel like they are important and to be a positive role model for the school and community. I love my job.

Who Have Been Your Mentors?

It starts at home. My parents, my brothers, and my wife. On campus I learn from everyone, especially those who I see have a deep connection and are respected by students. Even my own students teach me life lessons.

How Does Your Leadership Relate to the LCAP?

I would like to thank my Creator for my leadership skills, I can connect with students, staff, and parents very easily. It comes naturally. Because of that, I have success. Ifyou genuinely care for someone, they will try to not let you down and do their best.

To learn more about the Clovis Unified LCAP,

visit our website at www.cusd.com/lcap.aspx or follow us on	@ClovisLCAP