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

Brown is currently serving as the Payroll and Benefits Supervisor for the district, where she provides highly specialized payroll processing and training services.

“My duties include accurately processing payroll records, but it’s much more involved than just timesheets,” Brown said. “It includes retirement system reporting, contracts, health insurance maintenance, and more. I also train payroll staff on complex salary calculations, retirement codes, auditing, and bargaining unit agreements.”

In addition to training payroll staff, Brown also supports district employees in better navigating pay and benefits systems.

“I enjoy educating employees on how to utilize technology to get their needs met,” she said. “I want to teach them so that they can have the knowledge to become empowered.”

It’s the many interactions with colleagues that Brown enjoys most.

“What I love best about my job is working with people and learning new perspectives and ideas,” she said. “Numbers don’t change. It’s the people you come in contact with that make a difference.”

Classified staff 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.

“Our payroll team supports and assists school site staff, so that they can focus completely on student needs,” Brown said.

“I may not see the kiddos on a regular basis, but I appreciate their artwork displayed here at the district office.”

Brown began her career at the district as a payroll technician in 2001 and was promoted to personnel analyst in 2021. She was promoted again to Payroll and Benefits Supervisor in 2022.

“My biggest challenge is becoming the best supervisor I can be,” she said. “I have had the pleasure of working with some excellent supervisors and mentors here at the district, and I hope to be as wonderful as they are, so that I can inspire my team and others around me.”

Working in the business department can be a promising career for those with an interest in numbers, she added.

“My advice for anyone pursuing this career would be to focus on math and critical thinking skills,” said Brown, who graduated from El Camino High School in Sacramento and studied accounting and business at American River College and Sacramento City College.

“Always have a positive attitude,” she added. “You never know what someone is experiencing in their lives, so treat everyone with compassion and kindness.”

In her spare time, Brown enjoys listening to her favorite music and being around water with her loved ones.

“I love Def Leppard, puppies, and Maui,” she said. “I also like to lounge in the pool and spend time with my husband, friends, and family.”