Whhhhr. Click. Plonk.
Behind the “STAFF ONLY” signs in a room deep within Palo Alto High School’s 400 building, two massive units churn out pieces of printed paper. At the helm, punching in instructions, is one of the school’s rather unknown employees: Veronica Rodriguez, who has single-handedly printed and distributed all worksheets, notes and tests for every teacher for the past 18 years.
Teachers often give Rodriguez recognition when she drops off copies to teachers’ classrooms but since this is a rare occurrence, many students are unaware of the importance of her job to their education.
“I understand during the pandemic, they [students] were doing a lot of work online. It’s understandable, but on paper, it’s always important because some students do better if they have [their work on] paper. … Everybody thinks differently.”
Story continues below advertisement—Veronica Rodriguez, Copy room technician
“Sometimes teachers say ‘thank you to Ms. Rodriguez’ and they [the students] give me a clap,” Rodriguez said.
Although her job has been vital in previous years as most things have been on paper, since the pandemic kept students at home and doing schoolwork digitally, there has been a shift away from traditional paper and toward more digitized work. While Rodriguez acknowledges this, she said she feels that there will always be a value in paper.
“I understand during the pandemic, they [students] were doing a lot of work online,” Rodriguez said. “It’s understandable, but on paper, it’s always important because some students do better if they have [their work on] paper. … Everybody thinks differently.”
She feels like a part of the overall working system of the school, she says. Even though she may not get as much recognition as others, she strives to make other teachers’ jobs easier.
“I make sure that if I have any print requests, to be ready by the time that teachers need,” Rodriguez said. “And that way, make it easy on teachers to help teach to the students. That’s one of my goals, be helpful.”
“She always has a smile on her face. But beyond all that is the level of trust I have in her expertise. If our students, and frankly the other staff, carry the level of precision and excellence that she shows in her work, we could solve the world’s problems.”
—Lucy Filppu, AP Seminar teacher
Although students may not be aware of the impact of what Rodriguez does, teachers like AP Seminar teacher Lucy Filppu appreciate her timely and precise work.
“She [Rodriguez] is one of the most essential people in this entire school,” Filppu said. “Almost every person in this school has some kind of contact with her and depends on her for, from a last minute copy to reproducing entire, test prep worksheets or tests on time. She has the keys to the kingdom for so much of what happens at this school.”
Prior to working at Paly, Rodriguez had 14 years of experience as a reproduction technician at a machine shop. This allows her to do her current work with ease and speed, she said.
“She is the only person I’ve worked with in my career who is almost perfect in everything she does,” Filppu said. “I rely on her to carry my day, my week. She will arrive with copies perfectly put together, no careless mistakes at any time.”
Fillpu said Rodriguez’s positive attitude adds onto her already perfectly executed job.
“She always has a smile on her face,” Fillpu said. “But beyond all that is the level of trust I have in her expertise. If our students, and frankly the other staff, carry the level of precision and excellence that she shows in her work, we could solve the world’s problems.”