Chauncy Jones: Up Close and Personal

A typical day can mean she’s directing students to counseling or talking to them about good hygiene habits. They talk to me about what’s going on. They trust me when they can’t trust anyone else.

Her official job title may be Campus Security Officer,
but ask Chancy Jones what her typical day at work is
like and it’s clear she wears many hats at Santa Monica
Malibu Unified. “Sister. Auntie. Counselor. Cheerleader.
Confidant,” she says. A typical day can mean she’s
directing students to counseling or talking to them about
good hygiene habits. “They talk to me about what’s going
on. They trust me when they can’t trust anyone else.”

It’s easy to see why Chancy has built such a great rapport
with students. This is not merely a job to her. She
approaches her work with a genuine sense of caring for
the students she works with everyday. She also credits a
great team at John Adams Middle School that truly values
the contributions of classified employees. “We are all
treated like human beings first, before we’re district
employees.” Chauncy hopes to extend that positive work
environment district wide. “Our biggest challenge is
disrespect for classified employees’ contract,” she says.

As a Steward she works to enforce the rights and benefits
secured in the contract and as a Bargaining Team
Member she’s a voice to win contract improvements.
However, she’s adamant that no one can do it alone.
She continually tells her co-workers to read their contract,
understand their rights. “I have to fight for what’s right,”
she says. “To make sure we are all treated equally.”

One change toward greater respect came last year when
members at Santa Monica Malibu Unified joined Local 99.
“It’s a great positive thing,” she says. “Being in a school
union gives us that strength to become a powerful unit.”
But, she adds, numbers are not enough. Respect starts
with each and every member. “Speaking out about your
rights is not going to cause you to lose your job,” she
tells her co-workers. “We as classified employees are the
union … as classified employees we are on the front lines …
We deserve respect.”