For many who work in schools and with children, the year since the Los Angeles fires has meant doubling down on being of service. In the early days after the fires, it meant getting immediate help for students and families — food, clothing, masks — and providing support to help with their psychological trauma. Then, being of service meant working to get students back on track in their education and their lives. This has been an extraordinary effort, often on top of the normal demands of their jobs, by hundreds of individuals in and beyond schools across Los Angeles. These are just a few people who helped support students and their needs in the past year. Vanessa PalominaTeaching artist Vanessa Palomina remembers an incident weeks after the Eaton fire. One of the 3-year-olds she teaches stood staring quizzically, unable to recognize her. They were seeing each other for the first time since the fires at an event to unite members of the Pasadena Unified School District and recultivate a sense of community. Palomino took out her pig puppet, and the child lit up. “Oh my God, it’s Nacho!” the student exclaimed, recognizing both puppet and teacher. The incident reminds Palomino that the youngest students may process the fires and the aftermath differently than older children. After the fires, Palomino returned to the classroom to work with the district’s youngest students in transitional kindergarten and pre-K classes twice a week. The initial weeks after the fires were difficult. “There was a lot…
