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.
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 U.S.D.)
- Jeff Zahniser (Sacramento County Office of Education)
2016–17 (TOY 2017)
- Nichole Harshbarger (San Juan U.S.D.)
- George Helms (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
2015–16 (TOY 2016)
- Jennifer Ruby (Robla S.D.)
- Stephanie Smith (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
2014–15 (TOY 2015)
- Michelle Bebout (San Juan U.S.D.)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
- Jennifer Walker (River Delta U.S.D.)
2013–14 (TOY 2014)
- Tim Smith (Elk Grove U.S.D.)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2014 and state nominee for National Teacher of the Year
- Deanna Victor (San Juan U.S.D.)
2012–13 (TOY 2013)
- Bob Crongeyer (Robla S.D.)
- Jennifer Ellerman (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
2011–12 (TOY 2012)
- Robert Brewer (Elk Grove U.S.D.)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
- Nicole Naditz (San Juan U.S.D.)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
2010–11 (TOY 2011)
- Shannan Brown (San Juan U.S.D.)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2011
- Kadhir Rajagopal (Twin Rivers U.S.D.)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2011
2009–10 (TOY 2010)
- JoEllen Shanks (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Deb House (San Juan U.S.D.)
2008–09 (TOY 2009)
- Janet Anderson (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Sylvia Rodriguez (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
2007–08 (TOY 2008)
- Rob Myers (Del Paso Heights S.D.)
- Jeanette Providence (Grant JUHSD)
2006–07 (TOY 2007)
- Sky Mie Smith (Elk Grove U.S.D.)—also CA Teacher of the Year semi-finalist
- Cheryl Fox Dultz (San Juan U.S.D.)
2005–06 (TOY 2006)
- Tom Funk (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Allison Stiles (San Juan U.S.D.)
2004–05 (TOY 2005)
- Barbara Harris (Folsom Cordova U.S.D.)
- Asa L. Salley (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
2003–04 (TOY 2004)
- Denise Phillips (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Chris Hoover (Robla S.D.)
2002–03 (TOY 2003)
- Virginia Avila (Grant JUHSD)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year 2003 and state nominee for National Teacher of the Year
- Jim Jordan (San Juan U.S.D.)—also CA Teacher of the Year finalist
2001–02 (TOY 2002)
- Kathryn Allaman (Center U.S.D.)
- Sheryl Sorensen (Natomas U.S.D.)
2000–01 (TOY 2001)
- Michael Laharty (Sacramento County Office of Education)
- Craig Faniani (San Juan U.S.D.)
1999–2000 (TOY 2000)
- Pete LeBlanc (Center U.S.D.)
- Doreen Pendleton (Folsom Cordova U.S.D.)
1998–99 (TOY 1999)
- Debbie Vigil (Natomas U.S.D.)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
- Taffy Maurer (Rio Linda Union S.D.)
1997–98 (TOY 1998)
- Heidi Haugen (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Larry Bordeaux (Grant JUHSD)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
1996–97 (TOY 1997)
- Marilyn Ferris-Steed (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
- Ralphene Lee (San Juan U.S.D.)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
1995–96 (TOY 1996)
- Joy Tharp Policar (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Diana Alverson (San Juan U.S.D.)
1994–95 (TOY 1995)
- Vicky Vigario (Elk Grove U.S.D.)—also one of five CA Teachers of the Year
- Vanessa Dauterive (Natomas U.S.D.)
1993–94 (TOY 1994)
- Thelma Jackson (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- David Dayton (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1992–93 (TOY 1993)
- Mark Vigario (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Mertie Shelby (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1991–92 (TOY 1992)
- Patricia Kohn (Folsom Cordova U.S.D.)
- Meena Jensen (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1990–91 (TOY 1991)
- Felicia Bessent (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Sandra Noel (San Juan U.S.D.)
1989–90 (TOY 1990)
- Jean Graf (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Judy Ellis (Rio Linda Union S.D.)
1988–89 (TOY 1989)
- Kathleen Moore (Folsom Cordova U.S.D.)
- Sharon Baker (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1987–88 (TOY 1988)
- Valerie Welch (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Linda Dixon (Grant JUHSD)
1986–87 (TOY 1987)
- Marilyn Peters (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Frank Borgia (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1985–86 (TOY 1986)
- Robert Mange (Folsom Cordova U.S.D.)—also CA Teacher of the Year
- Virginia B. Grabbe (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1984–85 (TOY 1985)
- Richard Crooks (Folsom Cordova U.S.D.)
- Susan K. Hunter (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1983–84 (TOY 1984)
- Ollie W. Carr (Del Paso Heights S.D.)
- Diana Bowington (Grant JUHSD)
1982–83 (TOY 1983)
- Jean McDaniel (Elk Grove U.S.D.)—also CA Teacher of the Year
- Mel Freeman (San Juan U.S.D.)
1980–81 (TOY 1981)
- Ron Kremer (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1979–80 (TOY 1980)
- Eugene Jundt (Elk Grove U.S.D.)
- Bill Palmer (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1977–78 (TOY 1978)
- Elinor L. Hickey (Sacramento City U.S.D.)
1973–74 (TOY 1974)
- Mary Tsukamoto (Elk Grove U.S.D.)