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Board Recognizes SCOE 2001 Teacher of the Year

Michael Laharty Honored at County Board of Education Meeting

Group photo with Michael Laharty holding trophy

Michael Laharty (center), his wife Kathy, and children were greeted by (L-R) County Superintendent of Schools Dr. David P. Meaney, Trustee Harold Fong, Board President Elinor L. Hickey, Trustee Brian Cooley, and Trustee Patricia M. Thiel.

Sacramento County Office of Education's Teacher of the Year 2001 Michael Laharty received special recognition at the March 20 meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Education.

Robin Pierson, SCOE's Director of Special Education/Special Services, formally introduced Mr. Laharty to the Board of Education and talked about his work with special needs students. She also assisted in the presentation of a perpetual trophy which will be displayed at Mr. Laharty's school site for the duration of the school year.

Mr. Laharty was named in September 2000 as one of two Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2001 in the annual county-wide Teachers of the Year program.

A Sacramento resident, Mr. Laharty has been a teacher for 23 years, eight of them as a vocational specialist working with special education students at the Sacramento County Office of Education’s Leo A. Palmiter High School campus. The school’s Culinary Café, Step-Up Program and Gourmet Garden are just three of the programs Laharty has helped implement to provide opportunities for special needs students to successfully transition from “school to world.”

Michael Laharty was a participant with other Teachers of the Year 2001 in a special halftime celebration coordinated by Maloof Sports and Entertainment 2 February during halftime of the Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors game at ARCO Arena.

Nominations are now being accepted for Sacramento County Office of Education's Teacher of the Year 2002. Applications must be submitted to the Sacramento County Office of Education Public Information Office, 9738 Lincoln Village Drive in Sacramento, by Tuesday, May 1, at 5 p.m.

Michael Laharty posing with group

Leo A. Palmiter High School Principal Diana Mickela (far left) and Special Education/Special Services Director Robin M. Pierson, Ed.D. (far right) were on hand to congratulate Laharty and his family.