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. More than 240,000 K-12 students are served by public schools in Sacramento County.
Classified Employee of the Month
Eric Nicholls, Special Education Technician, was nominated by Principal Carmen Walker for his contributions to the Special Education program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Nicholls, who works in SCOE's RSP (Resource Specialist) Program, serves students at two campuses: El Centro Jr./Sr. High (located within the Sacramento County Juvenile Detention Center, aka "Juvenile Hall") and Gerber Jr./Sr. High School. Among his responsibilities are assisting classroom staff in implementing learning strategies and special education curricular adaptations, and providing individual and small group instruction to high risk students to help them meet required literacy and transition goals. "Mr. Nicholls likes his job working with at-risk youth," reports his supervisor. "He is hard-working and dedicated to putting students' needs first. Students are comfortable talking and working one-on-one with him and they can count on him to be there for support and encouragement." Concludes his supervisor, "Mr. Nicholls has great rapport with all of his students and feels that he can relate to them, as he has an understanding of where they are coming from. Eric serves as a strong and positive influence for students and staff alike." Mr. Nicholls has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since 2003.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Sterling Alley, Special Education Teacher, was nominated by Principal Carmen Walker for his contributions to the Special Education program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. He works closely with students having special education needs who are receiving instruction at SCOE's El Centro Jr./Sr. High School campus within the Sacramento County Juvenile Detention Center. His work calls for him to develop, adapt and modify instructional activities to help each student make progress according to the student's own IEP (Individualized Educational Program). Mr. Alley's experience as a Substitute Para-Educator in SCOE's Juvenile Court and Special Education/ED programs has aided him greatly in his role as teacher, as does his B.S. degree in molecular biology and his M.A. degree in educational leadership with an emphasis on transitioning "at promise" youth from alternative settings. "Mr. Alley enjoys working with the students and staff in both general education and special education programs," says his supervisor. "He is not only knowledgeable of the curriculum content, but helps make learning meaningful for the students. He is willing to assist wherever he is needed, and students and staff enjoy working with him." She concludes, "Sterling has a passion to help at-risk youth succeed in life and demonstrates that passion daily with his work in SCOE's RSP." Mr. Alley has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since 2007.