Oak View’s beloved Fran Andrade retired

-- ANDREW WAINER

The Oak View community of Huntington Beach underwent a dramatic change

this year when the Oak View School Community Liaison Fran Andrade retired

from the position.

Andrade, who had occupied the position for 30 years, passed the torch to

Sheri Medrano. Medrano had worked at Oak View Elementary School for 17

years as a bilingual instructional aide.

Andrade was treated to a surprise retirement party in June.

“She’s awesome,” Medrano said at the party. “She cares a lot about these

people.”

The school’s lunch area was filled with festive decorations and Mexican

music for the occasion.

“Long live Mrs. Andrade,” students, parents and faculty cheered.

Andrade was sad to leave the position she came to personify for many

community members.

“It makes me sad that I am going to leave all these people, and it makes

me happy that they care this much for me,” Andrade said.

But in spite of the sense of loss at Andrade’s departure, the Oak View

community was excited about the new liaison.

“I think I am ready after all these just one more thing. Shari’s last

name is spelled Medrano or Medrano -- both are in the story.

years,” Medrano said. “I grew up here. This is my home away from home.”

Medrano was modest in the face of her predecessor.

“I don’t measure up to Andrade, but they’ll take me,” she said after

being offered the position.

Medrano was chosen out of seven applicants within the district and scored

the highest on the required written test.

Andrade’s advice to Medrano, who also happens to be her great niece, was

not to get too attached to the families.

“When you are caring, it’s going to be hard,” Andrade said. “That’s why I

got all these gray hairs.”

In the fall, Medrano was settling into the job -- and beginning to feel

its strain.

“It’s a struggle,” Medrano said. “It’s hard to leave my work at the

workplace.”

Medrano said she has to deal with a wide variety of issues in her new

position.

The Westminster resident said money and family problems were two of the

main dilemmas people from the community approached her with.