James Ferraro

As the Lead Plumber for the Rowland Unified School District, James Ferraro performs a critically important function in the maintenance of the plumbing systems for the district’s more than two dozen buildings. Compounding the complexity of Ferraro’s job is the fact that these structures are all independent of each other, making him responsible for well over 20 separate plumbing systems. Each of the 23 school buildings, for example, has multiple restroom facilities that are subjected to very heavy use. Each school also has at least one commercial-grade kitchen; James Ferraro assumes responsibility for the gas lines and water fixtures for each of those kitchens as well as maintaining some of the appliances like stoves and dishwashers. Before coming to the Rowland Unified School District in 2009, James Ferraro, who lives in Monrovia, spent four years as an Apprentice Plumber in a program that led to him earning his license as a Journeyman Plumber, followed by five years working for Fairchild Plumbing and Mechanical, Inc., in Ontario, California. The time he spent with Fairchild was critical to his development because it enabled him to give practical application to many concepts, such as supervision and coordination of work with other crews, which he had been taught in the classroom. James Ferraro also assists the school district’s carpenter and performs any welding the district requires. He stands ready to assist with drywall repair and painting and, if necessary, repairing broken water mains. A dedicated do-it-yourselfer, James Ferraro likes performing renovation and repair projects himself on his home in Monrovia. In his leisure time, he enjoys riding both bicycles and horses, as well as participating in team sports such as football and baseball.