As a classified employee of Woodland Joint Unified School District, Rachel De La Torre is doing her part to ensure that all Woodland Joint Unified School District students graduate and are prepared for college or a career.

De La Torre currently serves as an occupational therapist for the school district. An occupational therapist helps students improve their ability to participate in desired daily life activities, including important learning and developmental activities. In addition, they work with students who may have cognitive, physical, or developmental difficulties.

“As an occupational therapist in the school-based setting, I support students with various needs and diagnoses with their educational goals by promoting independence and function with the skills related to their job as a student,” De La Torre said. “Often in the school setting, this includes support with fine motor skills, sensory-processing, as well as visual motor and visual-spatial skills. I am additionally responsible for assessments, participating in Individualized Education Plan meetings (IEPs), and providing quality occupational therapy services. Services can and most often include direct support with the student, as well as collaboration with teachers and staff.”

As part of her job, De La Torre frequently travels from school to school to provide support services to students throughout the district.

“Although Woodland is a small town, I sometimes travel to four schools a day, making sure to have all the supplies on hand at each site to meet each individual student’s needs and goals,” she said.

Despite the travel requirements, De La Torre said she finds her profession fulfilling.

“As an occupational therapist I truly feel I have one of the best jobs in the world,” she said. “I enjoy working with students with various needs and abilities to find new and fun ways to reach their educational goals.”

De La Torre added that the Woodland School District is a great place to provide her specialized services.

“WJUSD has the most amazing special education team,” she said. “The teachers and paraprofessionals who are with the students from the time the bell rings to when the buses or parents arrive are truly empowering students with special needs that the future is full of possibilities.”

Classified staff such as De La Torre are district employees, other than credentialed teachers, who provide a variety of high-quality services to students. Their roles are essential to the district’s mission of preparing all students for a future of endless possibilities.

“I believe as an occupational therapist, facilitating progress toward meeting educational goals also supports the feeling of student empowerment,” she said. “When a student feels confident and able to meet multiple educational goals yearly, the future is full of endless possibilities!”

De La Torre graduated from Woodland High School and attended UC Davis, where she majored in psychology with a minor in human development. She also earned a master’s in occupational therapy at Samuel Merritt University.

In her spare time, De La Torre enjoys spending time with family at the beach, camping, and being outdoors.

“I also enjoy running as my way of relaxing,” she said. “Although most often a run can include a stroller and a dog who also loves being outdoors.”