Janine Blaesser has spent more than 30 years in the educational field in Santa Cruz County, serving in a wide range of duties and responsibilities. She retired as the Soquel Union School District Personnel Administrator in 2019.

Janine began her career in education shortly after moving to Santa Cruz with her husband Mike and their three children. She started as an instructional aide at her neighborhood school, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary. She also held instructional aide positions at Live Oak Elementary School and Main Street School and later became a PIP (Primary Intervention Aide) at Capitola Elementary.  She joined the New Brighton office staff in 1997. In 2000 she moved into the Personnel Department at Soquel Union Elementary School District. It was there she discovered her passion: hiring the best teachers and staff and being responsive to their needs in order to retain them. She always strived to keep the person in Personnel.

Although retired, Janine is still active in the district, volunteering in Santa Cruz Gardens kindergarten classes and TK program. She and Mike conducted an after-school cooking program at Santa Cruz Gardens.

It was through volunteering that she rekindled her love for the students and was reintroduced to the wonderful work of the Balance Aides in the classroom. She is proud to be a member of the Board of such a fine and well-respected organization.

In retirement Janine loves to visit her grandchildren, travel to national parks, garden and quilt.