Arlene Hein Elementary EGUSD celebrates opening of Arlene Hein Elementary
Elk Grove Citizen News

A small army of four decades of friends attended the celebration of the opening of Arlene Hein Elementary on Tuesday. Some of the many well wishers were Marcle Stramm (left) who was a school board memeber and Marielle Tsukamoto, former principal in the school district.



By Keith Gebers
Citizen Staff Writer - The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) celebrated the opening of Arlene Hein Elementary School Tuesday night, dedicated to a woman who has given her entire adult life to the education of area young people.

In 1952, Hein was just 17 years old when she was offered a job as secretary at Elk Grove High School. Now, 52 years later a school, Arlene Hein Elementary, has been named in her honor. During those 52 years Hein has accomplished numerous jobs for the Elk Grove Unified School District. In 1959, when the EGUSD was formed, Hein was appointed secretary to the superintendent and the board of education. Through the years, her duties included taking care of certified personnel matters and she kept records for the district's building program. In addition, she served as district office manager and took care of most administrative operations.

In 1978 Hein was presented the Mason Lodge award for Administrative Employee of the Year and the Elk Grove Confidential and Administrative Association named her Confidential Employee of the year for 1994-95. The Elk Grove Rotary Club's Paul Harris Award also honored Hein.

During those years she helped form the adult education and preschool programs and aided in the development of the first curriculum manual for the district.

Master of ceremonies was Bob Roe, principal at Arlene Hein Elementary, who said the first day's enrollment was 880 students and now about 900 classmates attend the school.

EGUSD Interim Superintendent Charles E. McCully said, "Arlene Hein is a remarkable lady who has touched many lives of many students."

He pointed out the EGUSD has grown more than 1400 percent since Arlene Hein joined the district in 1952.

Priscilla Cox, president of the EGUSD board of education, said, "Arlene Hein represents everything we look for when we name schools. She has influenced hundreds-of-thousands of students and has attended every board meeting."

Presentations were made by Senator Mike Machado's office, Elk Grove Mayor Pro Tempore Rick Soares and Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli. Soares expressed her value during the high years of growth in the district. Supervisor Nottoli said, "Arlene, you have been an inspiration for many people."

Dave Gordon, former EGUSD school superintendent and now Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools said, "Arlene is a treasured part of Elk Grove's past, present and future. She has been at the heart of the district during its extreme growth and has always been there to serve parents and children."

Former EGUSD Superintendent Bob Trigg said, "Arlene was a great leader and she has done everything in the district and has done it well, every job she has undertaken was done with skill."

He added that about 50,000 students have graduated since Arlene Hein joined the district.

Former County Supervisor Toby Johnson said, "I have great memories of Arlene and her family."

He talked about how the Elk Grove area has changed in the past 52 years and said that back in those days the school district was very uncomplicated.
"The smoothness of the district's growth should be complimented and Arlene was part of that efficiency." Johnson said.

Niece Rebecca Hein read a special presentation written by her sister Victoria. Arlene was described as, "One who has always been there for us and always will be."

Appearing before the large gathering, the honored guest thanked all those who attended the naming celebration.

"It is truly an honor to have a school named after me," she said. "It was a proud moment when the first class of 880 students said the Pledge Allegiance on the opening day of school back in August."


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