To enthusiastic cheers and applause, five individuals were awarded long overdue high school diplomas in a ceremony held May 15 by the Sacramento County Board of Education. Operation Recognition honors the contributions of veterans and Japanese American citizens who missed completing high school due to World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War.

Honorees, joined by family members and friends, gathered with Board of Education Trustees at the David P. Meaney Education Center for a pre-ceremony reception. The El Camino High School Jazz Combo provided music for the reception, and a flag ceremony presented by the Marine Corps League of Folsom Color Guard opened the event. Board President Brian Cooley conducted a brief meeting of the Board, during which Trustees unanimously voted to bestow diplomas.

Student speaker Megan Phelps, a senior at Vista del Lago High School in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, gave a special tribute to veterans who made sacrifices during times of war by reading her award-winning essay based on the theme "How I can show patriotism in my community." The essay earned her first place and a $500 college scholarship in the SCOE Operation Recognition Essay Contest sponsored by SAFE Credit Union. Presenting the scholarship check was Herb Long, SAFE Credit Union board member.

"My patriotism will be exemplified not through empty words, but it will be seen in my dedication to recognizing those who have sacrificed their education, time and desires to keep our country safe and allow all other citizens, like me, to chase their dreams. For that, I will be forever grateful," Phelps said in her speech.

Trustees presented diplomas to the following individuals:

• Jose Morales Alvarado (served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War); resident of Sacramento's midtown area; attended Grant Union High School in Sacramento.
• Andrew "Andy" E. Anderson (served in U.S. Navy during World War II); resides in Loomis, having retired after 42 years of service with the Operating Engineers, Union #3 in Sacramento; attended Armijo High School in Fairfield, California.
• Glenn Dominic Carrasca (served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War); resident of South Sacramento; attended Batac Rural High School in the Philippines before enlisting.
• Richard Lee McDuff, Jr. (served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War); resident of Elk Grove; attended Blackford High School in San Jose before enlisting.
• Michael Dennis Posehn (served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War); attended Encina and Hiram Johnson high schools before enlisting; resident of Citrus Heights.

Operation Recognition was adopted unanimously in October 2001 by the Sacramento County Board of Education and has since expanded to include recognition of qualifying Vietnam War veterans. Operation Recognition high school diplomas are authorized by the California Education Code (§51430 and §51440).

The Sacramento County Board of Education has thus far provided Operation Recognition high school diplomas to 163 individuals, including six posthumous awards. Persons interested in applying for an Operation Recognition diploma for themselves or a qualifying family member may contact SCOE at (916) 228-2416 or download application forms online.

A team of robotics students from North Area Community School, a Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) program, walked away with a top prize after impressing judges with the troupe of dancing robots they programmed.

North Area students competed May 5th in the 2nd Annual UC Davis C-STEM Day, held on the UC Davis campus. The event was organized by the UC Davis K-14 Outreach Center for Computing and STEM Education and the College of Engineering, with help from the UC Davis Computing and Robotics Outreach Club.

The Outreach Center aims to improve Computing, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (C-STEM) education in grades K-14. "Our goal is to increase participation of students who are typically underrepresented in computing and to develop their computer-aided problem-solving skills by tackling real-world STEM problems," said Center Director Harry Cheng. "I am very pleased with the accomplishments of Terry and his students from the North Area Community School."

The North Area Community School team won first place in the Robot Dance competition, receiving a cash prize of $80 and a trophy. The competition required students to create a robot dance (YouTube video). Students submitted their programming code for the dance, along with the video.

In addition, student team leader, 8th grader Fred Gordon, received the Student Achievement Award, the highest honor available for middle school students. Other team members included Jeremy Agnew, Anthony Titman, and Jonathan Neal.

North Area Community School teacher Terry Ahrens was also recognized as one of four area C-STEM Teachers of the Year. The honor recognizes C-STEM teachers for their exceptional contributions in teaching computing, integrating computing into STEM subjects, and inspiring students to pursue post-secondary study and careers in C-STEM fields.

The North Area Robotics Club is supported by the UC Davis C-STEM program, created by Professor Harry Cheng, Ph.D. The program provided six modular robots, or "mobots," designed by Professor Cheng and his department, to assist in establishing the club. Professor Cheng and his graduate assistants have also provided many hours of technical support to help solve hardware and software issues.

Special Education teacher Terri Edinburgh is not accustomed to having many adults in her classroom. However, on May 8, her room was filled with administrators and colleagues bearing balloons, flowers and good news. They informed Terri that she has been selected as the 2013 Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Teacher of the Year.

Ms. Edinburgh, a resident of Rancho Murieta, teaches students with moderate to severe disabilities in a Kindergarten–4th Grade combination special day class at Prairie West elementary School, located in the Elk Grove Unified School District.

Ms. Edinburgh said she wanted to be a Special Education teacher after having the opportunity to tutor a first grader with disabilities many years ago.

"It was the look in her eye, a look that begged for more, a look that said, 'If you would only give me a chance,'" said Ms. Edinburgh. "That experience was the kindling that stirred a fire in me to pursue Special Education."

Ms. Edinburgh has been a SCOE employee since November 1996.  Prior to joining SCOE, she worked six years as a Para-Educator in a Special Day Class at Valley Oaks Elementary School (Galt Joint Union Elementary School District). She earned her B.S. in Recreation/Rehabilitation from Sacramento State University and her M.A. in Special Education from National University in 2011.

Joining County Superintendent David W. Gordon in making the announcement were Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robin Pierson, and Special Education Principal Carmen Walker.

"Terri believes in her students' potential to be successful and is an awesome advocate and motivator for both her students and their families," said Principal Walker. "Our students are truly fortunate to have such a caring, compassionate and collaborative teacher supporting them."

Ms. Edinburgh will be honored, along with teachers representing other Sacramento County school districts, at the annual Teachers of the Year Awards banquet, which will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at the Woodlake Hotel.

The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program is presented by SCOE in partnership with Maloof Sports and Entertainment, the Sacramento River Cats, U.S. Bank, the Intel Corporation Folsom, and the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry.

The Board has designated May 9, 2012 as California Day of the Teacher. The resolution (Resolution No. 12-03) states that the "Day of the Teacher should be a day for local education agencies, parents, public officials, and the community to recognize the dedication and commitment of teachers who are educating our children."

The Day of the Teacher is celebrated on the second Wednesday in May in accordance with California legislation and the Education Code. The Day of the Teacher is patterned after the traditional "El Día del Maestro" ("Day of the Teacher") festivities observed in Mexico and other countries.

The many contributions of those who work in local schools and districts also are being recognized by the Sacramento County Board of Education, which has proclaimed the week of May 20-26, 2012, as Classified School Employees' Week in Sacramento County.

The resolution (Resolution No. 12-04) recognizes the services of classified school employees and states "classified employees provide services that enable the County Office of Education to respond effectively to the needs of students and their families, teachers, administrators, and other staff, and the needs of the greater community."

In 1986, the California State Legislature declared the third full week of May as California Classified School Employees' Week in recognition of the valuable role school employees play in providing for the welfare and safety of the state's youth. Classified school employees include secretaries, clerks, custodians, para-educators, bus drivers, food services, maintenance and warehouse workers, and many other support personnel in school districts and county offices of education.

The parking lot at Consumnes River College turned into a temporary construction zone May 2-3 as students from sixteen Sacramento region high schools competed in the 26th Annual Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange Design/Build Competition.

The two-day event is designed to promote awareness and interest among high school students in the construction and architectural design industries, as well as create a fun learning atmosphere. The student teams design and build 96 square foot structures from scratch, with materials provided by the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange (SRBX) through its membership.

"This nationally recognized program is a great opportunity for high school students to gain firsthand knowledge of the construction industry and get real work, hands-on experience," said Tim Taylor, Sacramento County Office of Education Assistant Superintendent of Court and Community Schools and ROP. "The students and teachers involved in Design/Build are highly motivated."

After the competition, the students sell their structures to help fund their future school's future projects or Regional Occupational Program (ROP) classes. The structures are judged on design, building construction, safety and teamwork. This program allows students to get a real world experience with teamwork, materials, planning and craftsmanship.

"The Design/Build contest is the most real world situation you could provide a student. They show up and there's a pile of wood on the ground, and in two days you leave with a building. It doesn't get any more real than that in the world of work," says Jeff Magill of Sheldon High School.

High Schools that participated in the 2012 Design/Build include: Cosumnes Oaks, Cordova, Delta, Esparto, Golden Sierra, Gridley, Linden, Live Oak, Luther Burbank, Rio Vista, River City, Sheldon, Wheatland, William Daylor, Winters and Woodland.

The Design/Build program was started by the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange in 1986. The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is one of the event sponsors.

More than 150 SCOE students, accompanied by family members, teachers and school staff, visited animal exhibits and enjoyed lunch on the lawn. Special education programs at local school district sites also sent students to the zoo field trip, which has become an annual event. Nearly 340 children and adults from throughout the county participated.

Among the chaperones were SCOE's Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School students, who served as peer mentors. The peer mentors helped by pushing wheelchairs, escorting students and assisting with serving lunch.

The zoo's acres of pathways proved no challenge for SCOE students trying out their MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) equipment. Four school sites within the SCOE Special Education Programs have been designated as Model Sites for the MOVE International Program and Curriculum for students with significant physical disabilities.

"The accessible environment of the Sacramento Zoo, combined with its helpful staff and volunteers, make this an enriching field trip for students and their families," said SCOE Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robin Pierson. "This annual outing has become a highlight of the SCOE Special Education program year."

Arrangements for the special visit were coordinated by the SCOE Special Education Department and the Sacramento Zoo. Partial funding for the outing was provided by SCOE employees, whose Mather Employee Events Team organized a benefit luncheon April 19 to help defray costs.

Excellence in high school journalism was honored on Thursday, April 26, as the Sacramento High School Journalism Network (SHSJN) hosted its first awards dinner.

The SHSJN is a project of the California Scholastic Journalism Initiative, in collaboration with The Sacramento Bee and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE). This program was started with generous funding from Mr. Rowland Rebele, a former publisher, First Amendment advocate, and philanthropist.

"The purpose of the network is to keep existing newspaper journalism programs alive in the local high schools, restart programs that have atrophied or died out, and start new ones in schools that have never had a published student newspaper," said Steve O'Donoghue, Director of the California Scholastic Journalism Initiative.

Currently twelve Sacramento area high schools participate: Gerber, Luther Burbank, Foothill, Hiram Johnson, Cristo Rey, C. K. McClatchy, and Rio Americano in Sacramento; Davis High School in Davis; River City in West Sacramento; Laguna Creek in Elk Grove; Whitney in Rocklin; and Vista del Lago in Folsom.

Students write stories for the Sac County Breeze newspaper. Their stories are filtered through a team of writing coaches. Professional journalists serve as mentors and support the students in the classroom. SHSJN also provides monitoring for the teachers, free curriculum materials, and access to scholastic journalism resources.

Guest speaker Joyce Terhaar, Editor of The Sacramento Bee, praised the students for their efforts and encouraged them to consider journalism as a career.

"Our job is to give people the information that they want," Terhaar said. "The single most important thing is to be a critical thinker."

Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon told the award winning students the skills they are learning as budding journalisms are skills that attract prospective employers who are looking to hire dependable employees.

"High school students involved in journalism programs look at the world through a wider lens," Superintendent Gordon said. "What type of applicant does a prospective employer find attractive? Someone who has clear thinking and writing skills, who can work in teams, and who meet important deadlines."

2012 Sacramento Journalism Network Award Winners

Best News Writing

• Daniel Tutt & Anna Sturla (Davis High School)
  "Language, Culture a Barrier for Latinos in Soccer"

Best Feature Writing

• Karina Bueno (River City High School)
  "Growing Up Different"

Best Editorial Writing

• Charis Abrams (Foothill High School)
  "Control Stress by Taking the Right Steps"

Best Column or Personal Opinion Writing

• Ilaf Esuf (Whitney High School)
  "Saving Bucks at the Thrift Stores"

Best Sports Writing

• Anthony Escue (Foothill High School)
  "Secrets to Success in Athletics"

Best Photography

• Sharafenna Williams (Foothill High School)
  "Parkour: Jumping for Joy"

Best Editorial Cartoon

• Henry Anker (Davis High School)
  "Breakdown"

Overall Newspaper Excellence

• Davis High School: Blue Devil HUB

Best New or Revived Paper

• Foothill High School, fhspress

The talents of middle school students from 21 local campuses were combined Friday, April 13, to present one of the most entertaining events of the year—the 15th Annual Club Live Countywide Lip Sync Competition. Several hundred spectators cheered the show, which took place at the Crest Theatre in downtown Sacramento.

Coordinated by Club Live and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), the Club Live Countywide Lip Sync Competition featured 109 students, ages 12 to 14, dancing and "singing" to old and new tunes. Schools throughout Sacramento County recently held their own Lip Sync Competitions, with the top winners selected to participate in the countywide show.

Teams placing in the top three in the 15th Annual Club Live Countywide Lip Sync Competition included:

• 1st Place: Toby Johnson Middle School (Elk Grove Unified)
• 2nd Place: Arcohe K-8 School (Arcohe Union)
• 3rd Place: Smythe Academy of Arts & Sciences (Twin Rivers Unified)

Additional category awards included:

• Creativity: Natomas Middle School (Natomas Unified)
• Originality (tie): Sutter Middle School (Folsom Cordova Unified) and California Middle School (Sacramento City Unified)
• Lip Sync Accuracy (3-way tie): James Rutter Middle School & T.R. Smedberg Middle School (both of Elk Grove Unified) and John Barrett Middle School (San Juan Unified)
• Choreography (tie): John H. Still Middle School (Sacramento City Unified) & Kingswood K-8 School (San Juan Unified)
• Stage Presence (tie): Orangevale Open K-8 School (San Juan Unified) & Joseph Kerr Middle School (Elk Grove Unified)
• Inspirational: Albert Einstein Middle School (Sacramento City Unified)
• Most Spirited/Energy (tie): John Barrett Middle School (San Juan Unified) & Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School (Elk Grove Unified)
• Pure Entertainment Value (tie): Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School & Samuel Jackman Middle School (both Elk Grove Unified)
• Enthusiasm (tie): Louis Pasteur Fundamental Middle School (San Juan Unified) & Mills Middle School (Folsom Cordova Unified)
• Expression/Emotion/Soul (tie): Wilson C. Riles Middle School (Center Joint Unified) & Will Rogers Middle School (San Juan Unified)

The winners received cash prizes and gifts provided by Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Company and others, including the William Orrock Memorial, Northern Artists Films, Grant High School Friday Night Live, Creekside Counseling Associates of Elk Grove, Diana and Amy Borchart, Venice A. and Leroy Jenkins, Jr., the Miranda Family, Vickie Good, Dennis Good, Pamela Robinson, Chris Daggett, Jason Daggett, Diana Lampe and Marcia McAllister.

Community leaders serving as judges were Keith Bennett, Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Company Sales Manager; Cortez Quinn, District Coordinator for State Assembly Representative Roger Dickinson; Helena Hurst, Sacramento County Office of Education Personnel Commissioner; and Megan Helm, Friday Night Live Youth Council member. Videography was provided by students of Foothill High School. Cline Moore served as master of ceremonies.

The Club Live program provides opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills, build positive peer and adult relationships and become involved as active leaders and resources in their schools and communities. Each year, many middle school students in Sacramento County participate in exciting and beneficial Club Live activities. Club Live is a program of the SCOE Prevention & Student Services Department.

For more information about Club Live e-mail or phone Joelle Orrock, Coordinator, at (916) 228-2418.

At a workshop on Saturday, April 14, Sacramento County area educators learned how to build solar cases that can generate life-saving energy for medical wards in developing countries. The workshop and suitcases were sponsored by State Farm Insurance and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE).

Representatives from the Mutana Women of Liberia accepted the suitcases on behalf of the African women whose lives will be saved by the distribution of these portable generators.

"In regions where power is intermittent at best, these solar cases bring light and hope to people in third world nations where these resources are needed most," said Eric Johnson, coordinator of the Green Energy and Technology Academy at Laguna Creek High School.

The goal of the workshop was to expand the construction of the small cases as a green energy educational tool and a much needed medical resource in developing countries. Included in the workshop attendees was a team from Sierra Leone.

The solar cases plug into solar cells to offer immediate power to charge a 12-volt battery that can offer power when needed. The solar cases can be used as charging stations for communication radios and as electrical outlets for lights or medical equipment.

"This project has been an inspiring and phenomenal combination of science, engineering and technology," said Tim Taylor, SCOE Assistant Superintendent for Career Technical Education. "The students involved here should know they are part of a great humanitarian effort."

The workshop was part of Laguna Creek and Cosumnes Oaks high schools green academy programs. Since 2010, the two programs have sent 50 solar cases to more than 14 countries including Uganda, Nigeria, Haiti, Thailand, India, Mexico, and Rwanda. Cosumnes Oaks was the first to start the project in the 2008-2009 school year.

It is with great sadness that the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) announces the passing of longtime SCOE Personnel Commission member Earl Walker. Mr. Walker died April 6 following an extended illness. He had served on the Personnel Commission since 2002.

When Mr. Walker graduated from high school, his plan was to become a minister, but life took him on a different journey. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he worked in the Maintenance and Operations Department of the Grant Joint Union High School District. In 2007, at the 81st Annual CSEA (California School Employees Association) Conference, he was elected to the CSEA Honor Roll in recognition of his longstanding and exemplary service to the Association.

"Earl was always an extremely dedicated Commission member who was committed to the success of our employees, as well as the success of the programs they supported and represented. He worked tirelessly and we will miss him" said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools.

"Earl was a principled man of honor and integrity and served the Commission with dedication and pleasure. We will miss his gentle ways and his presence. We feel lucky to have been touched by such a good man," Effie Crush, SCOE Chief Administrator for Human Resources.

The Personnel Commission of the Sacramento County Office of Education was established in December 1967 to administer the Merit System for classified employees, a personnel system of rules and procedures, similar to civil service, which governs classified school personnel. The Merit System is based on the principle of employment and promotion on the basis of merit for the purpose of obtaining the highest efficiency and assuring the selection and retention of the best qualified persons in the service of the Sacramento County Office of Education.

The Commission is comprised of three members that serve staggered three-year terms.  One member is appointed by the Board of Education, another member is appointed by the classified collective bargaining employee unit (CSEA), and together those two members select a third member.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Night on Friday, April 27, the Sacramento River Cats are making specially discounted tickets available for educators, school employees, district staff, students, families and the community-at-large.

Discounted Teacher Appreciation Night tickets are available online, not at the box office. Ticket prices are:

• $17 for Senate Box tickets (normally $22)
• $15 for Gold Rush tickets (normally $19)
• $12 for Delta Box tickets (normally $15

Purchase Tickets Online
Use special offer code SCOE. Tickets should be printed out at time of purchase. An interactive seating chart is provided to help you choose the perfect seat.

The game starts at 7:05 p.m. at Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Drive in West Sacramento; gates open an hour prior to game time. A parking map is available.

Teacher Appreciation Night is presented by the Sacramento River Cats in partnership with Intel Folsom and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), coordinator of the annual Teachers of the Year program in Sacramento County.

Teacher Appreciation Night festivities include a pre-game Teachers of the Year recognition, which takes place around 6:30 p.m. near home plate.  Performing the national anthem will be students from Natomas Unified School District. The ceremonial "first pitch" will be thrown by Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2012 Robert Brewer (Elk Grove Unified School District) and Nicole Naditz (San Juan Unified School District).

In addition to being Teacher Appreciation Night, April 27 is "$1 Hot Dog and $1 Dessert Night" at the River Cats.

The River Cats, a Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Oakland As, will be playing the Tucson Padres, a Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Students participating in Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) programs had an opportunity to demonstrate their entrepreneurial skills on March 29 during Student Success Day at the David P. Meaney Education Center.

The "up close and personal" kick-off to Public Schools Month served as a fundraiser for SCOE's Juvenile Court, Community School and Special Education programs, with all proceeds going directly into those programs.

The SCOE parking lot was transformed into an outdoor mini-mall for the day. Career-Technical Education students in SCOE's landscaping program sold student-grown seedlings, vegetable starts for spring gardeners. Students from North Area Community School sold student-crafted necklaces, earrings and bracelets at the Jewelry Sale tables. Students from Gerber Community School sold student-made pet treats, toys, beds and other pet accessories.

In addition, students participating in the Woodturners Club sold hand-made pens and other carved items. SCOE staff also had the opportunity to enjoy a hot dog lunch provided from the Leo's Links cart operated by Palmiter students. Student art from several SCOE Special Education campuses, as well as program information, also was on display.

Many thanks go to the Special Education, Juvenile Court and Community Schools, and Career-Technical Education/ROP teachers, para-educators, administrators, and staff who worked with students to make Student Success Day possible.

The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) hosted a special reception on March 28 to honor those County Office teachers who have been nominated as the 2013 SCOE Teacher of the Year.

The teachers nominated for this prestigious honor represent the wide range of educational services provided by SCOE, ranging from programs for infants born with severe disabilities to instructional programs for at-risk youth, as well as programs for students receiving environmental education. Also joining the festivities were the administrators and colleagues who made the nominations.

The nominees for 2013 SCOE Teacher of the Year are:

• Craig Bradford (Alternative Education, North Area Community School)
• Marsha Cornwell (Special Day Class, Wilson C. Riles Middle School)
• Terri Edinburgh (Special Day Class, Prairie Elementary West)
• Monica Hodges (Sly Park Environmental Education Center)
• Kevin Jordan (Landscaping/Horticulture Careers, Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School)
• Melanie Lee (Special Day Class/Independent Living Skills, Galt High School)
• Stephen Turner (Sly Park Environmental Education Center)

SCOE will announce its 2013 Teacher of the Year this May. The 2013 Sacramento County Teachers of the Year will be announced at a recognition banquet on August 15.

The Teachers of the Year Program is coordinated annually by SCOE to recognize the achievements of local educators and to raise awareness of the valuable role that teachers play in the lives of their students and in the community. At the awards recognition dinner, two teachers will be identified as the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year and will be eligible to participate in the statewide competition.

Business partners supporting the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program are Maloof Sports and Entertainment, the Sacramento River Cats, the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry, the Intel Corporation Folsom, and U.S. Bank.

Information about the program is available online or by phoning the Sacramento County Office of Education at (916) 228-2417.

The competition heated up when students from the Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School Culinary Arts Café participated in the 10th annual California ProStart event March 25-26 at the Sacramento Convention Center.

The annual competition, hosted by the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF), features local high school culinary teams going head-to-head in a series of culinary competitions. During this spirited event, student chefs have just one hour to prepare and present a three-course meal using only two butane burners for cooking. In a separate management contest, teams were required to propose a restaurant concept including a menu, marketing plan, and design elements.

"Chefs from all over the world compete in such competitions not only as a rite of passage but to come together and share ideas and expertise," said Jeff Zahniser, the culinary instructor at Palmiter High School. "Culinary Arts students benefit from these events in many ways from team building to organizational and critical thinking skills."

Participants in both events relied on skill and knowledge. Points were awarded for specific criteria including proper cooking procedures, safety and sanitation, presentation, product taste, and teamwork. The student teams were scored by a judging panel comprised of restaurant owners and master chefs.

Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School, a Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) education program, provides education to special needs students, with the primary disability of Emotional Disturbance (ED), in grades 7-12. The students are referred directly by Sacramento County school districts that are unable to provide the more highly structured behavioral support programs available at Palmiter.

Students are provided a standards-based educational program that is supported by a strong vocational/transitional/school-to-world emphasis. Students in the Culinary Arts program prepare and serve lunch on specific Thursdays, typically running from November through May, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. The Café is open to the public (reservations required) and menus are available online.