She was among 110 outstanding volunteers of the year honored by the Junior League of Silicon Valley at a recognition luncheon on April 22.

"She is always at the school helping out in the classrooms," Booksin Elementary School Community Association president Laura Poscano said.

Santina said she started volunteering when her son, Scotty, a Booksin third-grader, began kindergarten. "I like being part of the school," she said. She also has a second-grader, Marijeanne, at the school.

Though the school now pays her to be the noon activities director and supervise children during recess, she spends her afternoons assisting teachers in her children's second- and third-grade classes.

"I do anything from [helping students] mastering reading to grading papers," she said.

Santina also participates actively in school fundraising efforts, making sure third-graders will be able to go to science camp in fifth grade.

Off campus, the 47-year-old is also a Brownie leader who takes a troop of 13 second-graders on field trips. She also coordinates other Brownie activities such as "Project One Warm Coat," which collects donated coats for local nonprofit agencies.

On weekends, Santina is active in Saint Francis Episcopal Church in Willow Glen, helping to organize rummage sales and serving on the children's ministry team committee.