Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year (TOY) program recognizes excellence in teaching within the county's public schools. Participating districts nominate individual teachers to receive this special recognition. SCOE also nominates one of its teachers to compete. At the Teachers of the Year recognition dinner, two teachers are identified as the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year and become eligible to participate in the statewide competition.
Previous Sacramento County Teachers of the Year
Historical listing of teachers selected as Sacramento County Teachers of the Year.
2024–25 (TOY 2025)
- Joshua Weeks (Robla School District)
- Marc Vankeuren, Ph.D. (Twin Rivers Unified School District)
2023–24 (TOY 2024)
- Jamie Davis (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Donja Harding (Natomas Unified School District)
2022–23 (TOY 2023)
- Rachel Baird (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Logan Grinsell (San Juan Unified School District)
2021–22 (TOY 2022)
- Yvonne Thornton (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
- Mandy Garner (Galt Joint Union High School District)
2020–21 (TOY 2021)
- Belinda Foster (Twin Rivers Unified School District)
- Lynda Bettencourt (Elk Grove Unified School District)
2019–20 (TOY 2020)
- Julie Fong (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Gewon Richards (Twin Rivers Unified School District)
2018–19 (TOY 2019)
- Brandon Parker (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Michael J. Steele (Elk Grove Unified School District)
2017–18 (TOY 2018)
- Rebecca Siegert McGill (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Jeff Zahniser (Sacramento County Office of Education)
2016–17 (TOY 2017)
- Nichole Harshbarger (San Juan Unified School District)
- George Helms (Elk Grove Unified School District)
2015–16 (TOY 2016)
- Jennifer Ruby (Robla School District)
- Stephanie Smith (Sacramento City Unified School District)
2014–15 (TOY 2015)
- Michelle Bebout (San Juan Unified School District)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
- Jennifer Walker (River Delta Unified School District)
2013–14 (TOY 2014)
- Tim Smith (Elk Grove Unified School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2014 and state nominee for National Teacher of the Year
- Deanna Victor (San Juan Unified School District)
2012–13 (TOY 2013)
- Bob Crongeyer (Robla School District)
- Jennifer Ellerman (Sacramento City Unified School District)
2011–12 (TOY 2012)
- Robert Brewer (Elk Grove Unified School District)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
- Nicole Naditz (San Juan Unified School District)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
2010–11 (TOY 2011)
- Shannan Brown (San Juan Unified School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2011
- Kadhir Rajagopal (Twin Rivers Unified School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2011
2009–10 (TOY 2010)
- JoEllen Shanks (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Deb House (San Juan Unified School District)
2008–09 (TOY 2009)
- Janet Anderson (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Sylvia Rodriguez (Sacramento City Unified School District)
2007–08 (TOY 2008)
- Rob Myers (Del Paso Heights School District)
- Jeanette Providence (Grant Joint Union High School District)
2006–07 (TOY 2007)
- Sky Mie Smith (Elk Grove Unified School District)—also CA Teacher of the Year semi-finalist
- Cheryl Fox Dultz (San Juan Unified School District)
2005–06 (TOY 2006)
- Tom Funk (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Allison Stiles (San Juan Unified School District)
2004–05 (TOY 2005)
- Barbara Harris (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
- Asa L. Salley (Sacramento City Unified School District)
2003–04 (TOY 2004)
- Denise Phillips (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Chris Hoover (Robla School District)
2002–03 (TOY 2003)
- Virginia Avila (Grant Joint Union High School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2003 and state nominee for National Teacher of the Year
- Jim Jordan (San Juan Unified School District)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
2001–02 (TOY 2002)
- Kathryn Allaman (Center Unified School District)
- Sheryl Sorensen (Natomas Unified School District)
2000–01 (TOY 2001)
- Michael Laharty (Sacramento County Office of Education)
- Craig Faniani (San Juan Unified School District)
1999–2000 (TOY 2000)
- Pete LeBlanc (Center Unified School District)
- Doreen Pendleton (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
1998–99 (TOY 1999)
- Debbie Vigil (Natomas Unified School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
- Taffy Maurer (Rio Linda Union School District)
1997–98 (TOY 1998)
- Heidi Haugen (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Larry Bordeaux (Grant Joint Union High School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
1996–97 (TOY 1997)
- Marilyn Ferris-Steed (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Ralphene Lee (San Juan Unified School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
1995–96 (TOY 1996)
- Joy Tharp Policar (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Diana Alverson (San Juan Unified School District)
1994–95 (TOY 1995)
- Vicky Vigario (Elk Grove Unified School District)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
- Vanessa Dauterive (Natomas Unified School District)
1993–94 (TOY 1994)
- Thelma Jackson (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- David Dayton (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1992–93 (TOY 1993)
- Mark Vigario (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Mertie Shelby (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1991–92 (TOY 1992)
- Patricia Kohn (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
- Meena Jensen (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1990–91 (TOY 1991)
- Felicia Bessent (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Sandra Noel (San Juan Unified School District)
1989–90 (TOY 1990)
- Jean Graf (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Judy Ellis (Rio Linda Union School District)
1988–89 (TOY 1989)
- Kathleen Moore (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
- Sharon Baker (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1987–88 (TOY 1988)
- Valerie Welch (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Linda Dixon (Grant Joint Union High School District)
1986–87 (TOY 1987)
- Marilyn Peters (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Frank Borgia (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1985–86 (TOY 1986)
- Robert Mange (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)—also CA Teacher of the Year
- Virginia B. Grabbe (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1984–85 (TOY 1985)
- Richard Crooks (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
- Susan K. Hunter (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1983–84 (TOY 1984)
- Ollie W. Carr (Del Paso Heights School District)
- Diana Bowington (Grant Joint Union High School District)
1982–83 (TOY 1983)
- Jean McDaniel (Elk Grove Unified School District)—also CA Teacher of the Year
- Mel Freeman (San Juan Unified School District)
1980–81 (TOY 1981)
- Ron Kremer (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1979–80 (TOY 1980)
- Eugene Jundt (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Bill Palmer (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1977–78 (TOY 1978)
- Elinor L. Hickey (Sacramento City Unified School District)
1973–74 (TOY 1974)
- Mary Tsukamoto (Elk Grove Unified School District)
