Families, teachers, staff and students gathered at the Sacramento County Office of Education on December 15, 2005, for SCOE's annual winter graduation ceremonies. Program Specialist Tom Neary welcomed the crowd and formally introduced three students who are making the transition from SCOE programs to other educational or job-training programs in their local communities. The students, who are graduating from SCOE programs based at Galt High School, Highlands High School and Sheldon High School, were presented with certificates by Sacramento County Board of Education Trustee Elinor L. Hickey. Following a slide show of student photos, cake and punch were served.
Participating in the event were SCOE Deputy Superintendent Marty Cavanaugh, Assistant Superintendent Robin Pierson, Special Education Director Gary Scott Johnson, and Judy Holsinger, director of the Special Education Local Plan Area. Program Specialist Leora Bautista-Hendricks coordinated the graduation event and produced the slide show.
SCOE's Special Education Department provides comprehensive educational and support services to students with severe disabilities and emotional disturbances, from birth to age 22 years, throughout Sacramento County. SCOE Special Education staff serve students with visual impairments, mobility needs, or speech and language disorders on more than 40 sites located in 16 school districts in the county. In the course of a year, the program serves an average of more than 900 students per month.