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
Sterling Alley, a Paraeducator, was nominated by Principal Stephen Wright for his contributions to the Juvenile Court and Community Schools Program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Alley works with students of SCOE's Esperanza Jr.-Sr. High School, which is located within Sacramento County Probation's Warren E. Thornton Youth Center. In addition to his daily support responsibilities in the classroom, Mr. Alley has coached the basketball team, tutored after school, and served on curriculum committees. His supervisor says, "He does an excellent job working with all of our students and spends countless hours working with our partners in County Probation and County Mental Health to provide the best possible program for our students." He has assisted in the development of a model transition program for students leaving the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center, helping ensure that the individual needs of exiting students are identified and addressed in the transition process. His supervisor concludes, "Mr. Alley is consistently contributing ideas to enhance our school and the services we provide. I admire his enthusiasm and hope to encourage him in his journey towards a teaching career. He is completing his training this year and, in my opinion, will be an excellent addition to the teaching profession." Mr. Alley has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since June 2007.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Thomas Jackson, a Teacher, was nominated by Principal Stephen Wright for his contributions to the Juvenile Court and Community Schools Program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Jackson's classroom is located at SCOE's Esperanza Jr.-Sr. High School campus, situated within the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center. He has pioneered the use of technology to motivate Juvenile Court School students and provide them with customized learning plans. He has led Esperanza's efforts to implement its new student assessment tool and supporting curriculum to address identified student needs. He has devoted much time testing and collecting student data to better facilitate the introduction of differentiated instruction. In this capacity, he has also served as the liaison with curriculum providers and has developed a model classroom for court schools of the future. He has taken on an after-school program that provides students with the opportunity to receive tutorial services centered on deficiencies identified by the Northwest Educational Assessment (NWEA). This program has allowed for an increase in student program hours and facilitated the individual/small group instruction needed by many of Esperanza's students. Mr. Jackson was part of the Esperanza Team selected to present at the May 2008 statewide Juvenile Court, Community and Alternative School Administrators of California conference. His supervisor says, "Mr. Jackson's dedication and commitment to his students are evident each and every time you walk into the room. Students are engaged and motivated to use their time wisely in order to better prepare for their return to the traditional school setting." Mr. Jackson has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since July 2007.