Rugani accepted the award during ACSA’s Personnel Institute, Sept. 26-28 in Sacramento.

Rugani was instrumental in leading COVID-19 preparation and response, as well as labor negotiations. The district had one MOU that carried bargaining groups through distance learning, hybrid learning and the return to school.

“It is relationships that are the key to making this job work,” Rugani said in her acceptance speech. “What we’ve found was that over the years — it takes both sides to build a relationship. ... I’m truly blessed because I’m able to work with two unions that truly do want the best for kids.”

In response to employee needs’ when they returned to teaching during COVID, Rugani helped implement “Teachcare” — a program that had the kids of staff come to schools to learn while employees were teaching high school students online. Rugani said it was an example of the district showing it cared about employees.

“When you feel cared about, no matter what happens in your life, if you feel you have someone to trust to talk with, you exceed your personal and professional expectations because while you’re at work, you’re able to do the work,” she said.

This sold-out event drew 300 school human resources leaders from throughout the state to Sacramento to discuss “Empowering Human Capital,” which was the theme of the annual conference put on by ACSA’s Human Resources Council.