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
Emily Greathouse, a Staff Secretary, was nominated by Director Natalie Woods-Andrews for her contributions to the Instructional Support Services Division of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Greathouse works for SCOE's School Readiness Department and the California Preschool Instructional Network, a collaborative of the California County Superintendents' Educational Services Association (CCSESA) and the California Department of Education. Her work encompasses regional support for the Capital Service Region's ten counties and the eleven CCSESA regions throughout the state. Each quarter she provides support to state and regional meetings typically held on three consecutive days, requiring extensive preparation and coordination of meeting materials. Ms. Greathouse also supports school readiness meetings involving community partners in the Countywide School Readiness Task Force, a collaborative between SCOE and First 5 Sacramento. Other partners include committee members of the Northern California Early Childhood Education Conference and instructors and administrators participating in collaborative meetings held with Los Rios Community Colleges. According to her supervisor, Ms. Greathouse is "extremely organized and resourceful" and demonstrates proactive and thorough planning. "She is an asset to the School Readiness Department, and she contributes greatly to the successful coordination and communication of countywide, regional and statewide meetings and events." Ms. Greathouse enables SCOE to play a valuable leadership role in helping bring about systemic changes needed to improve the quality and scope of preschool programs. Ms. Greathouse has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since October 1999.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Kate Mahan, a Special Education teacher, was nominated by Principal Gina Guarneri for her contributions to the Infant Development Program (IDP) of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Mahan serves infants with disabilities whose families reside in the San Juan Unified and Folsom Cordova Unified School Districts. She is a vital member of an IDP team which—comprised of a speech therapist, infant educator, occupational therapist and nurse—collaborates to provide a comprehensive range of services to infants in a home-based setting. She provides home visitation to children and families and regularly conducts assessments to determine a child's progress. When the child turns three years of age, Ms. Mahan assists families with the transition to preschool programs. She also coordinates efforts with Alta Regional Center and other community programs to ensure that her students have optimal access to the services they need to succeed. She recently received certification as an Infant Massage Trainer, a therapy she teaches to parents to help improve communication with their child. Ms. Mahan assists with staff development on many topics. With other IDP team members, she provided training on the HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile) assessment. Numerous student teachers from California State University, Sacramento, have benefited by serving with her. "Kate is a leader in the field," says her supervisor. "She is recognized for her expertise, her calm manner and the support she provides for families." Ms. Mahan has been employed by SCOE since April 1985.