The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is one of 58 county offices located throughout the state. Approximately 650 regular and more than 950 temporary and substitute SCOE staff work year-round providing services that complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County.
Classified Employee of the Month
Vickie Foston-Odabashian, a Para-Educator with Community Schools, has been nominated by Principal Carol Guardia for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Foston-Odabashian works at SCOE's North Area Community School with students who require considerable attention to help them overcome a history of academic failure. As a member of the North Area Community School team, she assists in the delivery of SCOE's instructional program, "going above and beyond" in working with staff and students, according to her supervisor. "Her communication with students helps to create such a positive classroom environment that we have students who never want to leave their classroom to return to their district school," says her supervisor. In addition to her exemplary work at the school site, Ms. Foston-Odabashian makes numerous contributions in the community as an educator, author and volunteer. Her supervisor concludes, "Vickie is truly an asset to any classroom, and we are fortunate to have her as a member of the Community School team." Ms. Foston-Odabashian has been employed by SCOE since September 1998.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Ann Haverkamp, a Language, Speech, and Hearing Specialist with Special Education, has been nominated by Principal Gina Guarneri for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Haverkamp works in SCOE's Infant Development Program (!DP) at the Ralph Richardson School Infant Center, which serves 80 families in the San Juan Unified School District area. As a member of the IDP team, she provides home visitation to children with speech and language delays. She assists families as their children transition to preschool at age three, and she coordinates services with Alta Regional Center and other community programs. In addition, she provides consultation support to families and team members in the area of language and communication. In conjunction with other IDP speech therapists, she helped implement the Hanen Parent Training Program to help parents learn and implement communications strategies for their children. Having identified a need for parent materials and resources in the area of oral-motor skills, she is now working with colleagues to develop an oral-motor observation screening tool and related parent materials. According to her supervisor, Ms. Haverkamp has a "positive, can-do attitude" and "never says 'no' to staff members or families. She provides services in a relationship-based manner-beginning by observing what is going well, and then offering suggestions and strategies to help move the child to the next step." A parent of one of her students praised Ann Haverkamp in a letter written to SCOE: " ... because of her outstanding professionalism, we hold Sacramento County's Infant Development Program in very high regard. It was our first journey into any area of social service and we will be forever grateful." Ms. Haverkamp has been employed by SCOE since February 1987.