Marshburn serves as integral part of Saratoga student life

Activities director and Spanish teacher Rebeca Marshburn waves at students as she drives down the hallway in a golf cart. She stops at her classroom, room 806, and heads to her desk. On this day, she’s greeted by budget forms for the school-wide Second Harvest food drive.

Marshburn’s job as the school’s activities director revolves around working with ASB, the Leadership class, class officers, clubs and commissions.

Every school day, Marshburn wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to get herself and her three children ready for school. She first sends her son Chase to Redwood Middle School and her younger daughter Cassidy to kindergarten at Action Day Plus Elementary School in Saratoga before she finally rushes to Saratoga High to teach first-period Spanish.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, she meets with Leadership students at lunch; on Monday, she meets with ASB to discuss plans for the year.

Students involved in these activities see the contributions she makes to their success.

“We honestly wouldn't be able to do follow through with any of our ambitious plans without her guidance throughout the whole process,” ASB treasurer Mitali Shanbhag said. “She's always on top of everything and just allows us to reach our full potential as a group.”

Recently, Marshburn has been spending extra time planning with the Dance Commission for the Winter Formal dance in December. In total, she usually spends nearly nine hours at school most days before she heads home.

At the end of her day, she has to do her own homework as well. Marshburn is also pursuing a second master’s degree in education at Concordia University. Every night, she needs to keep up with her course content without sacrificing her contribution to Saratoga High.

“It is busy at times, but it’s all about finding the right balance between everything I am involved with,” Marshburn said. “Sometimes I need to tell myself to stop for the day and pick it up tomorrow.”

Being an activities director requires a variety of skills, including strong organizational abilities. Marshburn started the position last year after her extensive involvement with nonprofit organizations.

In 2007, she and her husband raised $20,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A few years later, she founded a nonprofit called Words for Smiles in her then-home of San Antonio, Texas, to provide computers for hospitalized pediatric oncology patients. Through the program, Marshburn was ultimately able to raise enough money to donate 15 portable computers to the hospital patients.

Although a large portion of her job involves activities, she still loves both teaching Spanish and working with student activities, and believes that doing both is the perfect balance for her.

“Working with the Leadership and ASB commissions has been really enjoyable and rewarding, and I look forward working with students in the years to come,” Marshburn said.