Sacramento County Board of Education Recognizes
September 2007 Employees of the Month
Posted September 4, 2007
The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is one of 58 county offices located throughout the state. Approximately 700 full-time and more than 2,500 part-time SCOE staff work year-round providing services which complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in the County of Sacramento. Over 230,000 K-12 students are served by public schools in Sacramento County.
September 2007 Classified Employee of the Month
Joyce Zygelman, a Para-Educator, was nominated by Principal Linda Mitchell for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Zygelman works at SCOE's Carson Creek Junior-Senior High School, which is located at the Sacramento County Probation Department's Boys Ranch juvenile facility near Sloughhouse. She assists teacher Fred Castillo in the GED prep class, working with individuals and small groups of students to raise their academic levels in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Students range in age from 16-18 years old and have a goal of passing the GED (General Educational Development) examination. She also works with two students who passed the GED while at Carson Creek and are now taking college classes online through Sacramento City College. "Joyce has been a key player in implementing the school program this year," says her supervisor. "The GED pass rate has increased by 50% since she joined the GED educational team. Joyce is very committed to student achievement and provides the encouragement and additional help that many students need." Ms. Zygelman has initiated activities to improve the educational program. She designed a peer tutoring program that will shortly be launched, and she played a key role in helping remove obstacles for Carson Creek students to participate in online college classes. Her principal states, "Joyce is the model of how para-educators can work in the classroom with students to improve student achievement." Ms. Zygelman has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since September 2006.
September 2007 Certificated Employee of the Month
Teacher Bryan Teafatiller was nominated by Principal Stephen Wright for his contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Teafatiller teaches English/Language Arts (ELA) and science in the B Unit of Esperanza Junior-Senior High School, located within Sacramento County Probation's W. E. Thornton Youth Center. He has taken a leadership role in the ELA pilot program since its inception and continues to seek ways to improve the curriculum. He is known for his ability to motivate his students with constant reinforcement, which demonstrates to students what they can accomplish in a short time when they are willing to work hard and stay focused. He does not allow students to give up on themselves and, on a daily basis, provides students with certificates, books, and other creative incentives to acknowledge their accomplishments. For many, it is the first time in their lives that they have received rewards for academic performance. Mr. Teafatiller led the school's intramural basketball program in the 2006-07 school year, devoting many hours to help students achieve success on an individual and team level. His supervisor says, "Bryan has established himself as a leader on our campus. This has been accomplished through effort and a dedication to improving our educational delivery model for at-risk students. Our student body is very transient; thus, the educational service must be organized and centered on the individual needs of the diverse population we serve. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Bryan Teafatiller on a daily basis. He has been an inspiration to me as well as the other members of our staff. He is a team player and leads by example." Mr. Teafatiller has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since December 2004.
Contact Information
The Sacramento County Office of Education celebrates the accomplishments and exemplary service of its employees through the Employees of the Month Program. Parents, colleagues, and community members wishing to recommend a non-management staff member for consideration as a Sacramento County Office of Education Employee of the Month may receive a nomination form through the Communications Office by calling (916) 228-2416 or e-mailing Cathy Sapunor.
