Sammy Corona, known as “Mr. Sam” by students at Franklin High School, has been working as a Campus Security Monitor at FHS for the past four years and has been employed by Stockton Unified School District for 19. Corona initially served as a custodian, eventually leading to working with kids.
Corona was encouraged to become a CSM by the grandmother of a student at August Elementary School, where he used to work as a custodian. Corona had noticed the student was being bullied and intervened to help. Afterward, Corona said the student’s grandmother spoke to him to thank him for his help and suggested that he should be working with students since he had a knack for building rapport. Corona said that inspired him to transition into the position he now holds.
As a CSM, Corona often interacts with students the most when they are having a hard time in school or getting in trouble. Jeremiah McCoy (11) met Corona in his first year at FHS and initially did not like the CSM, whom he described as “very serious.”
Then, in his sophomore year, Corona approached McCoy and said, “We see something in you, so we want you to do better.” McCoy said this inspired him to focus on his education and improve his behavior. By junior year, McCoy and Corona had become close.
Corona said his daily goal is to inspire all the students at FHS to head in the right direction and earn their diplomas.
If Corona had the chance to recommend this job to others, he said he would emphasize the importance of understanding teenagers’ challenges growing up in a neighborhood where peer pressure is intense and teens frequently follow others into trouble instead of staying true to themselves.
Corona said he wants every FHS student to be able to graduate and reach their full potential, which is why he tries to help encourage students to overcome their struggles with the help of their teachers and staff.
Despite the difficulties of helping teenage students accomplish their full potential, Corona said he loves the challenge, even on tough days when things get tense or dangerous. For example, when the school receives threats of violence, there is an altercation in the neighborhood around FHS, or students bring dangerous items on campus.
Corona said that those occasions are when CSMs have to put on their thinking caps, lock the doors, and ensure all the students and staff are safe.
Corona said the job of being a CSM is always to be aware of what is going on – they are the eyes and ears of the campus.
While not every student always has a good connection with campus security, many students look for certain CSMs daily. Corona said he loves that many students will see him regularly to talk with him. Students often come by just to chat or, “I got a question for you, Sam – I got this, I got that,” Corona said.
Corona said he is always willing to listen and answer those questions because he knows those connections with students can make a huge difference. Even if he is busy, Corona said he makes sure never to turn away a kid who wants to talk because he knows many kids at FHS have many challenges and may just need a safe adult to confide in.
Jizelle Duarte Miranda (11) often checks in with Corona. Miranda’s grandmother is a former Stockton Unified School District bus driver and colleague of Corona’s. Miranda said that whenever she sees Corona around campus, she always updates him about “Nana.”
Miranda added that she thinks it’s good for students to connect with the CSMs because they will always be around, even (or especially!) when you do not like them. The CSMs are always looking out for you and your safety.