Award Recipient - Technology Staff: Rachel Yochum
Rachel Yochum
Rachel's 19-year career in education began as a Records and Attendance Clerk at Silver Valley Unified School District. She then transitioned to a High School Secretary role, where she managed student behavior and contributed to the district's strategic planning as part of the technology committee. Her strong understanding of the Student Information System and commitment to ongoing learning led her to a career in educational technology 13 years ago.
In 2017, Rachel joined Apple Valley Unified as a Database Systems Analyst. She has been a consistent attendee of CETPA/CITE meetings, attending her first conference in 2015 and every CITE conference since. Her involvement in the educational technology community includes serving as a regional chair for the High Desert CITE Group, co-founding the High Desert Data Group, participating in CITE committees, and becoming a member of Cohort 16 of the CTO Mentorship Program.
How long have you been a CITE member? What is your favorite memory from a CITE event?
“I have been a CITE member since 2013 and have been attending conferences since 2015. I am a graduate of the CTO Mentorship Program. CITE gives me a network of professionals I can connect with who truly understand the scope of my position and provide valuable insight when I need it the most.”
Nominator Information:
Nominated for this award by Rachel’s colleague, Chealsea Malterer, she wrote:
“It is a privilege to nominate Rachel Yochum for the CITE Technology Staff Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to TK–12 education. As a Database Systems Analyst at Apple Valley Unified School District (AVUSD), Rachel has been instrumental in leading our data systems, integration strategies, and student success initiatives. Her work spans departments and school sites, setting a high standard for data integrity and accessibility.
With nearly two decades of service in TK–12 education, Rachel consistently expands her expertise to promote equity, compliance, and transparency. At AVUSD, she plays a central role in daily operations and long-term data strategy. She oversees the integration of course data, rosters, and instructional tools in close collaboration with Curriculum and Instruction and external vendors, ensuring students and teachers have seamless, timely access to the digital resources they rely on for instruction, learning, and engagement.
A respected voice in the CITE community, Rachel has presented at conferences, volunteered for workshops, served on evaluation committees, and held multiple leadership roles in the CITE High Desert Regional Group and High Desert Data Group...Rachel Yochum exemplifies the best of educational technology: technical mastery, thoughtful leadership, and a deep commitment to student success.”