Sacramento County Classified School Employees of the Year
The Sacramento County Classified School Employees of the Year Program acknowledges and promotes the efforts of the county’s outstanding classified (non-certificated, non-management) employees. Those recognized for this honor are selected for exemplary performance in creating a school environment that contributes to the whole child by promoting student achievement, safety, and health.
District and SCOE staff compete in some or all of nine categories set by the California Department of Education (CDE). A committee—including district and SCOE representatives—selects employees to represent Sacramento County at the state level based on a paper screening process.
Winners at the county level move on to compete at the state level. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction traditionally announces the recipients of the state awards in the spring, in conjunction with Classified School Employees Week.
Program Partners
Partners supporting the Sacramento County Classified School Employees of the Year Program include the Sacramento Republic FC, the Sacramento River Cats, and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
Historical Listing of County Classified School Employees of the Year
2024 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2024 News Article]
- Kiana Davis, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Clerical and Administrative Services Category - Robert Whittaker, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Custodial and Maintenance Services Category - Jeannie Greenbaum, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Food and Nutrition Services Category - Svetlana Gerasenkova, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Paraprofessional Services Category - Leonora “Leo” Torrez, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Security Services Category - Samuel Portilla, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Technical Services Category - Joshua Crotts, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Transportation Services Category
2023 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2023 News Article]
- Troygah Ahmach, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Clerical and Administrative Services Category - Kerry Wedel, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Custodial and Maintenance Services Category
Also one of nine 2023 CA Classified School Employees of the Year - Antoinette Tanksley, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Food and Nutrition Services Category - Amber Dimas, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Health and Student Services Category
Also one of nine 2023 CA Classified School Employees of the Year - Rachel Dennis, Sacramento County Office of Education
Paraprofessional Services Category
Also 2023 SCOE Classified School Employee of the Year - Terry Douglas, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Security Services Category - Daniel Ericksen, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Transportation Services Category
2022 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2022 News Article]
- Natalia Aguirre-Mazzi, San Juan Unified School District
Clerical and Administrative Services Category - John Weathers, San Juan Unified School District
Custodial and Maintenance Services Category - Jennifer Lynn, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Health and Student Services Category - Ronald Thomas, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Paraprofessional Services Category - Anthony Pettinari, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Skilled Trade Services Category - Aaron Pierini, San Juan Unified School District
Technical Services Category
2021 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2021 News Article]
- Rhima Blenkhorn, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Food and Nutrition Services Category
Also one of nine 2021 CA Classified School Employees of the Year - Jamie Manalo, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Clerical and Administrative Services Category - Robert Mohoff, Natomas Unified School District
Maintenance Services Category - Diana Rose, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Paraprofessional Category
2020 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2020 News Article]
- Annette Conklin, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Child Nutrition Category - Juanamaria de Anda, Natomas Unified School District
Office/Technical Category - Dario Gonzalez, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category
Also one of nine CA Classified School Employees of the Year - David Harrell, San Juan Unified School District
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Cari Wernicke, Sacramento County Office of Education
Support Services and Security Category
Also 2020 SCOE Classified School Employee of the Year
2019 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2019 News Article]
- Crystal Rivas, Team Leader (Twin Rivers USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Scott Burton, Senior General Services Worker (Sacramento County Office of Education)
Also 2019 SCOE Classified School Employee of the Year
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Linda Benuto, Human Resources Technician (Natomas Unified School District)
Office/Technical Category - Lisa Blen, Instructional Assistant, Bilingual Spanish (San Juan USD)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category - Kerstin Morell, Family Advocate (Sacramento County Office of Education)
Support Services and Security Category - Dolly Livingston, School Bus Driver (San Juan Unified School District)
Transportation Category
2018 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2018 News Article]
- Ruben Santos, Head Custodian (Twin Rivers USD)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Sara Dunn, Senior Records & Report Clerk (San Juan USD)
Office/Technical Category - Breta Noguez, Paraprofessional Educator (Twin Rivers USD)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category - Debra Teel, Health Services Specialist (Twin Rivers USD)
Support Services and Security Category - Erika Saber, Senior Accounting Clerk (Twin Rivers USD)
Transportation Category
2017 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2017 News Article]
- Robyn McKenzie, Cafe Services Team Leader (Twin Rivers USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Sergio Bravo, Plant Manager (Sacramento City USD)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Bess Laliberte, School Clerk, Secondary (Folsom Cordova USD)
Office/Technical Category - Natalya Edwards, Transition Specialist (Sacramento County Office of Education)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category
Also 2017 SCOE Classified School Employee of the Year - Zenaida Kamine, School Community Prevention Specialist (San Juan USD)
Support Services and Security Category
2016 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2016 News Article]
- Joey Gutierrez, Café Assistant (Twin Rivers USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Kelly Bernier-Mun, Custodian (Sacramento County Office of Education)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category
Also 2016 SCOE Classified Employee of the Year - John Woodard, Multimedia Design Specialist (Sacramento County Office of Education)
Office/Technical Category - Rose Melavic, Instructional Assistant (San Juan USD)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category
2015 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year [2015 News Article]
- Brenda Childress, Nutrition Services Site Head Cook II (Twin Rivers USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Eric Crenshaw, Head Custodian (Twin Rivers USD)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Shannon Silvey, Secretary (Natomas USD)
Office/Technical Category - Julie Archer, Instructional Assistant II (San Juan USD)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category - Keenya Powell, Program Specialist (Twin Rivers USD)
Support Services and Security Category - Carthan Davis, Bus Driver (Twin Rivers USD)
Transportation Category
2014 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year
- Dorothy McCurdy, Nutrition Services Lead Assistant (Twin Rivers USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Mark A. Marson, II, Head Custodian (Twin Rivers USD)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Debra Thorne, Enrollment and Overflow Specialist (Twin Rivers USD)
Office/Technical Category - Elena Gonzales, Instructional Paraprofessional Educator, ECE (Twin Rivers USD)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category - Lamar Rushton, Attendance and Behavior Assistant (Twin Rivers USD)
Support Services and Security Category - Rosemary Coffer, Bus Driver (Twin Rivers USD)
Transportation Category
2013 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year
- Maria Ortiz, Cafeteria Manager (Twin Rivers USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Sammy Hachemane, Head Custodian (Twin Rivers USD)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Dawn Brinley, Duty Assistant (Twin Rivers USD)
Support Services and Security Category - Melinda Burt, School Bus Driver (Twin Rivers USD)
Transportation Category
2012 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year
- Naomi "Suzie" Proctor, Cafeteria Manager (Twin Rivers USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Ernest Alvarez, Network Cabling Technician (Twin Rivers USD)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Charles McGimsey, User Support Technician (Twin Rivers USD)
Office/Technical Category - Verline Liggins, Para-Educator (Twin Rivers USD)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category - Jaime Sanchez, Attendance and Behavior Assistant (Twin Rivers USD)
Support Services and Security Category
2008 Sacramento County Classified Employees of the Year
(First California Department of Education Classified Employees of the Year competition)
- Mary M. Dawidczik (Sacramento City USD)
Child Nutrition Category - Robert Mamola (Sacramento City USD)
Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Category - Beth Flory, Program Analyst (Sacramento County Office of Education)
(also 2008 SCOE Classified Employee of the Year)
Office/Technical Category - Vicki O'Connor (Rio Linda Union SD)
Paraprofessional Educator/Instructional Assistance Category - Susan Hamly (Rio Linda Union SD)
Support Services and Security Category - Leea Rodriguez (Sacramento City USD)
Transportation Category