May 2012 Classified Employee of the Month

Vanessa Edwards, Para-Educator, was nominated by Principal Lauren Roth for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Edwards serves students enrolled in the ROP (Regional Occupational Program) Culinary Arts class instructed by Chef Jeffrey Zahniser at SCOE's Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School campus. In addition to her work in the classroom and student-operated Culinary Arts Café, she participates in the school's Student-Operated Store Advisory meetings and has provided numerous suggestions to boost marketing and sales. Her supervisor says Ms. Edwards is "dedicated, positive and encouraging of the students in her class. She is seen as going above and beyond and is a significant help with student-planning, organizing, presenting and support" for events such as a luncheon held for Chinese educators visiting from Guangdong, China, SCOE's annual Shamrock Cookie Sale and the SCOE Employee Wellness Fair. A recent project was the statewide ProSTART Culinary Competition held at the Sacramento Convention Center in March, during which Ms. Edwards provided integral support for participating students and the many parents and families who attended. She additionally serves the campus as a Medi-Cal assistant working with the School Nurse to organize and update student files. Concludes her supervisor, "Ms. Edwards is an asset to our Culinary Arts Program because she is a team player, hard worker, personable, organized, willing to help out in any situation, and well-respected by students in her class." Ms. Edwards has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since March 1992.

May 2012 Certificated Employee of the Month

Jeffrey Zahniser, ROP Instructor, was nominated by Principal Lauren Roth for his contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. "Chef Jeff," who instructs the Culinary Arts Program at Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School, has developed a curriculum that helps ensure SCOE students are competitive in the restaurant and hospitality industry. He has credentials as a Certified Executive Chef (American Culinary Federation) and Certified Culinary Educator (National Restaurant Association). His background as a Certified ServSafe Instructor through the National Restaurant Association contributed to all of his students—within the first months of the school year—studying for and passing the test to earn themselves the ServSafe Food Handler's Certificate, a requirement through AB 1014 for employment in a California restaurant. Says his supervisor,"You cannot help but notice Chef Jeff's calm and patient demeanor, and his commitment to his students. His winning ways with students are evident. He not only teaches his students what they need in order to succeed in their future jobs, but also good ethics, being a reliable team member, and being a great employee. He is able to meet the needs of students with varying abilities and skills." In conjunction with the vision of Palmiter's "Sustainable Environments Pathway," Mr. Zahniser works closely with SCOE's ROP Horticulture instructor. He teaches students how to use organic produce in cooking and uses the school's organic garden to obtain fresh and seasonal produce. In addition to overseeing students as they serve weekly lunches at Palmiter's Culinary Arts Café, he has been dilgently preparing students to participate in the May SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship) competition. Palmiter's "Urban Oasis" SAGE project will be a Farmer's Market concept selling baked goods as well as the produce from the school's organic garden. His supervisor concludes, "Chef Jeff is well-respected by his students and fellow staff members. His philosophy is to build on each student's strengths and encourage each to understand that he or she can make a difference. He is creative and can easily and quickly bring a vision to reality." Mr. Zahniser has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since August 2011.

April 2012 Classified Employee of the Month

Kiu Chuong, Financial Analyst, was nominated by Assistant Superintendent John Fleischman for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Chuong works in the Financial Services Department, providing all aspects of accounting support to several SCOE programs including CTAP (California Technology Assistance Project), Intructional Technology & Learning Resources, Technology Services, Internet & Media Services, CNTS (Computer, Network and Telecommunication Support), AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), Cal-SOAP (California Student Opportunity Access Program) and BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment). Reports Becky Taylor, her supervisor, "Kiu is an outstanding employee who is always professional, hard-working, dependable, and very customer-service focused. The departments with which Kiu works are very unique within themselves and each grant or program within each department is also very different. Kiu has a true knack for understanding and implementing individualized fiscal tools for her departments and always 'goes the extra mile' to provide nothing but the best support to them." Andrea Willis, Director of Internet & Media Services, says, "As a department that is soft-funded, it is imperative that we stay on top of our budgets. Kiu's expertise, knowledge and customer service attitude have enabled my department to greatly improve our fiscal practices. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Kiu. She is an invaluable part of our team." Another accolade is from Director Marian Thacher, who says, "Kiu has been indispensable in supporting OTAN in its contract proposal and budgeting process. She knows SCOE and California Department of Education requirements, she knows how to find the answer if she doesn't have it, and she is quick and efficient in answering questions and helping me develop budget spreadsheets. It's a pleasure working with her because she has a 'can-do' attitude and never says, 'No.'" Director of Technology Projects Jerry Jones states, "I appreciate Kiu's hard work, dedication and skill as a Financial Analyst who supports our department. She most importantly takes the time to understand the unique needs, challenges and requirements of our department when it comes to supporting technology for the organization. This has in turn made her an invaluable asset to our team." Director Ben Anderson agrees, saying, "Kiu is always right on top of our budgets. She anticipates changes and alerts us about necessary adjustments. She responds quickly to questions and is incredibly efficient at keeping our budgets in line and responding to our needs. She's an effective budget analyst and a pleasure to work with." Her supervisor concludes, "Kiu's positive and pleasant attitude and willingness to take on new challenges when necessary make her deserving of this honor." Ms. Chuong has been a SCOE employee since March 2001.

April 2012 Certificated Employee of the Month

Bonita Keisler, SH Teacher, was nominated by Principal Carmen Walker for her contributions to the Special Education Department of the Sacramento County Office of Education.  Ms. Keisler works with students at McCaffrey Middle School who have physical disabilities. She has developed an ideal classroom environment for her students, providing them both academic and life skills in an inclusive general education setting. Her classroom maintains a consistent schedule and student expectations are set high. All who work in the classroom consider themselves a single team, largely due to the leadership model exemplified by Ms. Keisler. Ms. Keisler demonstrates a passion and genuine interest in her students, and she passes on her skills to her support staff. Her supervisor says, "Ms. Keisler is committed to her students and their families, and keeps the lines of communication open at all times. She works hard to ensure her students receive all services available to them through SCOE, Galt Elementary School District, and other agencies and community resources." Ms. Keisler has worked diligently to successfully integrate her students and staff into the McCaffrey School community. Her commitment and dedication to her program are commendable. Her supervisor concludes, "Ms Keisler's 'can-do' attitude has helped her students to develop those skills necessary for them to experience independence and success in their life's journeys." Ms. Keisler has been employed by SCOE since February 1998.

March 2012 Classified Employee of the Month

Susan Strauch, Office Assistant, was nominated by Sacramento Community Based Coalition Administrator Bill Lane, Ph.D., for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Strauch's daily activities are anything but routine. They include organization and maintenance of over 2,000 client files, intake scheduling and daily coordination with parole and corrections staff. Her supervisor reports, "Susan is both prompt and efficient in her role, setting high standards for herself that directly reflect in the quality of her work. She excels in meeting the needs of clients and staff of the SCBC." Beyond her administrative responsibilities, Ms. Strauch has been instrumental in ensuring a constant flow of parolee clients into the SCBC. In her short time at the program she has already coordinated the scheduling of more than 300 new parolee intakes, led the reorganization of the SCBC's client filing system, and participated in the planning and operations of recently implemented weekly pre-orientations. Concludes her supervisor, "Susan's friendly approach to her position, her willingness to assist our clients with their immediate needs, and her outstanding ability to communicate with our community partners have undoubtedly impacted the lives of those we serve. She consistently displays an unrivaled level of professionalism and commitment to achieving the mission of our program." Ms. Strauch has been a SCOE employee since November 2004.

March 2012 Certificated Employee of the Month

Deron Rodriguez, Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist, was nominated by Principal Sharon Holstege for his contributions to the Special Education Department of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Rodriguez works with students in a variety of settings in the northern area of Sacramento County. He serves preschoolers in an inclusive setting, middle school students who are autistic, and students with significant disabilities at SCOE's Dry Creek Elementary School. Using a variety of communication tools and strategies, he strives to give non-verbal students a voice. Mr. Rodriguez is known for his strong collaboration with the classroom team, supporting team members to help meet the communication needs of students. His supervisor says, "Deron has a kind and gentle, but fun, approach in his dealings with students, families and staff. He is able to build a relationship with students of all ages. Preschool students rush to his side when 'Mr. Deron' enters their classroom. Middle school students light up when he walks into a class. He is loved by his students." Mr. Rodriguez has been employed by SCOE since November 2005.

February 2012 Classified Employee of the Month

Nathan Hirth, Database Designer, was nominated by Director of Development and Training Connie Lee for his contributions to the K-12 Curriculum and Intervention Department of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Hirth develops and maintains the structural design of various systems, applications and databases for custom database-driven websites used for professional development. These systems include Client Account Manager (CAM), Event Management System (EMS), eStandards, and eProfessional Development (ePD). He has been instrumental in designing new online professional development courses and resources to support California's Common Core State Standards. The availability of quality online professional development for teachers and administrators has been limited; however, by creating online courses like ePD and resources like eStandards, SCOE will be increasing the distribution of high-quality professional development in the field, regardless of a user's geographic location or resource limitations. eStandards will be the first mobile app (application) of its type supporting the new state standards. Mr. Hirth's supervisor reports, "Nathan is always willing to take on a challenging project and is well-respected by colleagues for his in-depth knowledge about database design and technology. He is also a team player who is constantly ready to assist a fellow staff member or a client." Mr. Hirth has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since November 2008.

February 2012 Certificated Employee of the Month

Mary Larson, School Nurse, was nominated by Principal Sharon Holstege for her contributions to the Special Education Department of the Sacramento County Office of Education. She provides nursing support to students in SCOE's SH (Severely Handicapped) Program who range in age from kindergarten through young adult. Through her efforts, SCOE classrooms are able to serve students who are medically frail and have complex health issues. Daily, SCOE Special Education staff work with students with tracheotomies, gastrostomy (gastric feeding) tubes, seizure disorders, complicated diets, severe allergic reactions, numerous surgeries/procedures, and reliant upon a variety of medications. Ms. Larson's supervisor says, "Mary is always willing to go above and beyond to do the right things for our students and their families. Her calm presence, professionalism and competence have been a comfort to teachers and administrators as we encounter students with unique health characteristics and complex medical situations." Ms. Larson accompanies families to medical appointments to help bridge the gap between school and the medical community, and she goes to families' homes to help gather and share critical medical information. Reports Ms. Larson's supervisor, "A work day for a special education nurse may encompass a trip in an ambulance to the emergency room with a student...a sensitive conversation with a parent about the child's 'Do Not Resuscitate' order...a call to Child Protective Services...coordination with a child's medical team regarding specialized health care...diagnosing and consulting in regard to a child's health status at school...trying to mobilize resources for a child to get a new wheelchair or a medical appointment...and so much more. Mary performs all of these activities in a supportive way. She is committed to making in a difference in the lives of her students and their families—and she has." In addition to being named as SCOE's Certificated Employee of the Month in November 1998, Ms. Larson was named by the California School Nurses Organization as Northern Section School Nurse of the Year for 2005-06. Ms. Larson has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since July 1996.