Celebrating Cheryl Sanchez And Her Contribution to First 5 Siskiyou

“I’m taking a poll,” Karen Pautz, the director of First 5 Siskiyou, says. “If you like your job, shouldn’t you wait to retire until you turn 100?”

While such an exaggerated proposal evokes a chuckle, the idea of retiring when she was 100 wasn’t too far out of the question for Cheryl Sanchez, who just retired at the age of 90. This was Cheryl’s second retirement, but her first departure from First 5 Siskiyou, where she has served as Admin Services Coordinator for the last 22 years.

In 2000, when she was 68, Cheryl retired from her career in Irvine, CA and moved with her husband to enjoy a quieter pace of life in the North State. “We moved in September,” Cheryl recalls, “and we made it to almost December before we decided we were bored.”

Embarking on a second career to support First 5 Siskiyou

In January 2001, Cheryl began working for First 5 Siskiyou, the fledgling local branch of a statewide initiative founded in 1998 with the passing of Prop 10. As its name implies, First 5 focuses on supporting the first five years of life — years that are critical to children’s lifelong healthy development.

When Cheryl joined First 5 Siskiyou, the organization was still trying to assess the needs of the county and strategize accordingly. Cheryl supported two short-term executive directors and multiple board members. Research and planning turned into practical resources for families, such as providing play groups and childcare centers throughout the county.

A keen eye for detail and appreciation for numbers

When Karen Pautz became First 5’s executive director in 2005, Cheryl immediately began seeing dramatic growth. Karen initiated a program of hosting free lunch seminars for anyone involved with the first five years of children’s lives, from social workers to preschool caregivers. “If you feed them, they will come!” Cheryl observes with a laugh.

From then on, the organization grew quickly. “There was never a dull moment because we kept taking on new projects,” Cheryl recalls. Always ready to learn something new, she undertook the accounting work and loved it, bringing a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for numbers. To meet the needs of multiplying projects, she worked with Karen and others to secure grant funding and other income sources, supplementing the organization’s baseline state funding.

Now, more than two decades after she began her second career, Cheryl’s retirement “will leave a crater in all of hearts,” Karen says. Karen describes Cheryl’s “focus, candor, and brilliance,” and says she is “honored to have grown as a leader from learning through Cheryl’s wisdom.”

Honest, kindness, generosity and warmth

One of Cheryl’s greatest leadership skills is how she supports and encourages people inside and outside of the office. No matter how busy the day is, she keeps her door open to help others, giving generously of her time. Her unique ability to communicate with honesty and deep kindness makes her especially invaluable on a team. As one coworker puts it, “She’s a straight shooter – I love that beautiful way she’s able to get at the heart of the matter!” Another described Cheryl’s “true skill in being able to communicate directly but kindly,” in a way that, “always leaves a warm spot,” even after challenging conversations.

Cheryl’s secret to a long, healthy life and career probably rests in her openness to the changes the years have brought. “She is curious and excited to learn new things,” a colleague wrote. “She inspires me to try new things and not give up,” another shared.

Cheryl is especially proud of First 5’s literacy programs

When she considers the impact of the organization she helped build, Cheryl feels especially proud of its promotion of literacy. First 5 Siskiyou invests roughly $50,000 per year on books for its community resource centers, hosts a Read Across Siskiyou event, and runs the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

“I feel very privileged to have been 68 years old and gone back to have a second career in a completely unrelated field,” Cheryl reflects. “Siskiyou County families had no real support before First 5, and now we have a lot of skilled people from near and far.” Cheryl’s contributions to the growth of First 5 Siskiyou will continue to benefit North State children and families for years to come.