An elementary school special education teacher and a high school alternative education teacher are the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2020. The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) made the announcement Friday at its countywide teacher recognition dinner.
Julie Fong is a special education teacher for students with mild to moderate disabilities at Elk Grove Elementary School (Elk Grove Unified School District). Gewon Richards is an alternative education teacher at Vista Nueva Career and Technology High School (Twin Rivers Unified School District). Both teachers are now eligible to advance to the statewide competition where five teachers will be chosen as California Teachers of the Year.
A selection committee comprised of education professionals, including previous Sacramento County Teachers of the Year, interviewed the local district Teachers of the Year and selected the two winners. Sacramento County school districts, local charter schools, and SCOE are invited to nominate a teacher to participate in the program each year. Large districts are eligible to nominate two teachers.
Sacramento County Board of Education President Bina Lefkovitz presented the winners with the Elinor Lincoln Hickey Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by the County Board of Education. Eldon Vipond, representing the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry, awarded perpetual trophies to the County Teachers of the Year.
Throughout the school year, the 15 Sacramento-area teachers will be honored at events hosted by the Sacramento Kings, Republic FC, and River Cats.
Previous Sacramento County Teachers of the Year are listed online.
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program is presented by SCOE in partnership with the
Sacramento Kings, the
Sacramento Republic FC, the
Sacramento River Cats,
Intel Corporation Folsom,
SAFE Credit Union,
SCOE School of Education, and
Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry.
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Delanne Mathias Center Joint Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Arthur S. Dudley Elementary School
5th Grade
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Julie Fong • Selected as County TOY 2020 Elk Grove Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Elk Grove Elementary School
K–6th Grade Special Education
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Christina Chun Moslen Elk Grove Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Cosumnes Oaks High School
Theatre
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Jessica Kahn Folsom Cordova Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 White Rock Elementary School
K–5th Grade Counseling Enriched Program
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Johnathan Jonas Galt Joint Union High School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Galt High School
English, Link Crew, Tennis Coach
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| Jennifer Nunes
Natomas Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 American Lakes School
2nd–3rd Grade Special Education
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Brandi Gomes River Delta Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Rio Vista High School
English/AVID
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Jonathan Byram Robla School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Bell Avenue Elementary School
6th Grade
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Heidi Gaynor Sacramento City Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Sutter Middle School
7th–8th Grade Mathematics
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Seema Sokolis Sacramento City Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 James Marshall Elementary School
1st–3rd Grade Special Education
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Austin Roughton Sacramento County Office of Education Teacher of the Year 2020 Sly Park Environmental Education Center
5th–6th Grade Science
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Diane M. Beeken Boyd San Juan Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Mesa Verde High School
English
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Svetlana Popov San Juan Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Rio Americano High School
Mathematics
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Lizbeth Coleman Twin Rivers Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Woodridge Elementary School
2nd Grade
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Gewon Richards • Selected as County TOY 2020 Twin Rivers Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2020 Vista Nueva Career and Technology High School
History, English, Physical Education |