Meet: Erik Pfeifer: 3rd & 4th Grade Instructional Assistant @Caliber:ChangeMakers

Words about Erik from his coworkers: 
"Erik is the definition of team player.  He helps things run smoothly on campus across so many grade levels!  His calm yet engaged demeanor resonates with students and staff alike. My students literally erupt in cheers when he comes in to lead morning circle!"

"Oh Mr. Pfeifer is so awesome! Has there ever been a time where he hasn’t bent over backwards to home in anyway he can. He has been so wonderful to work with this year. He is generous with his time, always willing to listen to share and his calm positive and professional presence has made all the difference in the world. We are sooo lucky to have him!"

"Erik is such a wonderful, calm, and reliable co-worker and friend! He is always willing to lend a helping hand and does it with such a positive attitude. We are so lucky to have him at Caliber. :)"

"Erik is amazing! He is the definition of team player. The relationships he’s built with students and staff across campus are so strong and we cannot wait to have him in middle school in the computer science role."

"Erik is an amazing team player and is always willing to lend a helping hand! Our kiddos love him, we love him... he  is such an asset to team Caliber!"
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"Mr. Pfeifer is such a kind, earnest spirit.  He has done so much for our community that is beyond his job title and supported so many staff members over the course of this past year.  He is such a team player and we are so excited for him stepping into a new role with CMA next year!"




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A recent interview with Erik: 
What is your favorite thing about  Caliber?
My favorite thing about working at Caliber is working with our dedicated staff to give the students the support they need to grow and learn. Everyday I come to work happy , feeling privileged and excited to work with such an amazing staff.

What was your favorite subject  in school and why?
My favorite subject in school was computer science. I loved working on developing programming that could help people in a variety of ways.

What is your favorite memory associated with music (maybe a memorable concert, or playing an instrument yourself!)?  
I once had the privilege to attend a Dave Brubeck concert. I grew up in the Bay Area and he has had a tremendous impact on jazz in the 50's and 60's. The performance Brubeck gave was amazing, more than a few times the audience gave a standing ovation. I was relatively young when I saw him perform, and up to that point I was basically only seeing rock concerts. This was a defining moment for me that allowed me to reflect on different genres of music that I grew to appreciate.

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go?
I would go travel the world to hear different types of music and performances.

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically Vallejo)?
I moved to Vallejo a couple of years ago and I am really impressed with the number of gems found around town, everything from the preserve on Mare Island where you can spend the night in a yurt, to the number of great restaurants and eateries. I also enjoy biking to the downtown farmer's market on Saturday mornings.

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you?
Most people know I love going outdoors and doing outdoor activities, such as skiing, surfing and hiking. What a lot of folks don't know, is that I really enjoy backpacking. Once or twice a year, I'll venture on a 20-40 mile journey. California is surrounded by so much beauty, its hard to resist venturing out and stepping out into divine wilderness.

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