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 which complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County. Over 230,000 K-12 students are served by public schools in Sacramento County.
Classified Employee of the Month
Yami Gaitan, Program Analyst, was nominated by David Chun, Director, K-12 Curriculum and Instruction/Mathematics, for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Gaitan is responsible for clerical and technical support of SCOE K-12 programs such as Poetry Out Loud, the State Seal of Biliteracy program and numerous professional development trainings. She is known for producing eye-catching PowerPoint and InDesign training manuals, flyers, and other materials that receive high praise. Her supervisor says, "Ms. Gaitan's attention to detail, her flexibility and her time management skills enable her to perform her tasks easily under stressful circumstances." Ms. Gaitan also serves as a Spanish interpreter for SCOE programs and for SCOE's State Seal of Biliteracy work. The State Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to graduating high school students who have studied and attained proficiency in English and one or more languages. To qualify, a student must take an exam that assesses speaking, reading and writing in a language other than English. Ms. Gaitan has created tests in 19 different languages and serves as a Spanish oral interview panel member and scores the written portion of the test. Ms. Gaitan recently assumed responsibility for SCOE's Art and Science Department budgets. Concludes her supervisor, "Yami takes on all challenges and tasks with a calm and positive attitude. She works well independently and in a team environment. She is deserving of the Employee of the Month honor." Ms. Gaitan has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since 2000.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Brian Griffith, Juvenile Court School Teacher, was nominated by Juvenile Court Schools Assistant Principal Dan Powyszynski for his contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Griffith works at SCOE's El Centro Jr.-Sr. High School campus located within the B.T. Collins Juvenile Center (also known as Juvenile Hall). El Centro serves students ranging from grades nine through 12 who are wards of the Sacramento County Probation Department. He is assigned to the "special needs" unit, which houses and educates possibly the most challenging of those at the juvenile center. His supervisor says, "Mr. Griffith's patience and ability to remain calm in a very traumatic unit have greatly helped those students be successful." Serving as one of El Centro's Teachers-in-Charge, Mr. Griffith has demonstrated exceptional administrative capability, including overseeing the California High School Exit Exam and STAR testing of students. In the past year, Mr. Griffith was instrumental in working with County Probation staff to change the center's "points" behavioral incentive system. The new system, a great departure from the past, required much coordination, and Mr. Griffith met every week with other center department heads to facilitate its implementation. Concludes his supervisor, "It is a comfort knowing Brian is ready to step in when I am away from the campus. He is a great asset to the El Centro staff." Mr. Griffiths has been a Sacramento County Office of education employee since 2000.