February 2016.indd

County Connection A monthly publication for the employees of the Stanislaus County Office of Education Employees Making a Diff erence - SCOE ~ February 2016 ~ Nominees Recognized at Board Meeting Four classifi ed SCOE’s 2015-16 staff were honored Organizational Goals as “Employees Mak- ing a Diff erence” at 1. Continue to support the the January Board Superintendent’s Initiatives meeting. 2. Implement Destination Graduation This year’s hon- Year 3 through cross-divisional orees were: Patricia support Evans, Event Plan- 3. Support high quality teaching and ning Specialist II, In- learning to ensure students are structional Support college and career ready Services; Veronica 4. Develop new and enhance existing Mikhail, Admin- partnerships in the community istrative Assistant, 5. Strategically utilize new and Special Education; existing facilities to align staff and Erikka Perry, Event resources more effi ciently and economically Planning Specialist II, 6. Enhance technology programs, Educational Options; applications, and services and Patti Wilkinson, SCOE honorees for the Employees Making a 7. Emphasize SCOE’s cultural norms/ Financial Analyst, Business Services. Diff erence program included, pictured above Operating Principles when Veronica Mikhail was selected to rep- left to right: Veronica Mikhail, Patricia Evans, recruiting and welcoming new resent SCOE in the county-wide program Patti Wilkinson, and Erikka Perry. staff on January 25 at the Petersen Event Cen- ter. Her nominators said she is known as effi ciency and yet she addresses each the “go to” person for veteran and new em- need individually, with patience and pro- ployees due to her knowledge and strong fessionalism.” collaboration skills. People who work with “Whether it’s her willingness to help her in any capacity recognize her commit- problem solve, quickness to run errands ment to teamwork and value how she sup- for someone, or her overall cheerful and ports her coworkers. positive personality, Veronica’s smile and SCOE’s Directory is Veronica has a multi-faceted job that presence is adored and loved by all who available online: includes unique challenges. According to work with her,” said her nominators. www.stancoe.org her nominators, “prioritizing is a key to her

SCOE Mentor of the Year Recognized at Recent Mentor Celebration More than 250 mentors, men- The Five Pillars of tees and their families attended the Destination Graduation are: 17th Annual County Mentor Cel- 1. Mentoring ebration held on January 21 at the 2. Programs for at-risk students 3. Sharing of best practices Petersen Event Center. 4. Parent Awareness/Engagement During the evening festivities 5. Stanislaus READS! John Worsham, a custodian in the Special Education Division, was Now in its third year, SCOE’s Destina- named SCOE’s Mentor of the Year tion Graduation initiative continues to for 2016. focus on increasing the percentage of According to Cynthia Fenech, students who graduate from local high who coordinates the mentoring schools. program at SCOE, “John has been passionate about this program Did you know… since SCOE began mentoring Chronic absenteeism aff ects all kids, through the county nine years ago.” not just the absent ones. If too many Pictured above is John Worsham, Special Education, From the beginning John was in- students are chronically absent, it SCOE’s Mentor of the Year. strumental in sharing information slows down instruction for other Pictured below with her mentee is Sue Rich, Admin- students, who must wait while the about mentoring with his colleagues istration. teacher repeats material for absentee at JFK and Margaret Annear schools. students. This makes it harder for stu- In prior years, John volunteered as dents to learn and teachers to teach. part of a mentor team at Shackelford School. This year he became a one- Source: Attendance Works on-one mentor because of the great Several behaviors both in and out of need for mentors at Shackelford. But school—including absenteeism, de- he didn’t just commit to take on more linquency, and substance abuse—are days mentoring this year, he also strong indicators of dropping out. took on mentoring another student Source: California Dropout Research one-on-one on a separate day. John Project spends several days a week on his lunch hour mentoring. The goal of the Destination Through John’s passionate sharing Graduation initiative is to of the mentor program, this year alone increase graduation rates in he convinced several of his colleagues to become mentors, and he also recruited Stanislaus County. friends who aren’t even SCOE employees to join the county program! HERO OF THE MONTH Heroes nominated: Kim Mathiesen, Accounting Technician III, Business Services, was recognized for diligently Sokhan Adari Luke Hibbard processing travel reimbursements in a timely man- Liz Arthur Brianna Larsen ner. She goes above and beyond expectations to David Craig Kim Mathiesen ensure that employees are paid promptly. Kim will Aaron Crumrine Rich McClure receive two tickets to Regal Cinemas. Korena David Joanna Rawers SCOE’s Hero Program gives staff the opportu- Lisa Henry Kristie Tate nity to recognize their peers. All employees nomi- Jacquelene Herring Rebecca Wood nated are entered into a monthly drawing. Hero cards are available on SCOE’s employee website. (Call 238-1709 to claim your prize.)

Graphics Department Relocates to New Employees Kansas Avenue Facility Audra Coburm, Child Develoment Specialist Cindy Holman, Para Educator Severe During the past few Claudia Diaz, Para Educator Severe 1:1 months, SCOE staff at the Couquette Denego, Para Educator Severe 1:1 Eric Castro, Para Educator Severe 1:1 Graphics Department Kelly Carter, Para Educator Severe have been packing and Linda Guerrero, Campus Supervisor preparing for the move Lollbej Jauregui, Preschool Associate Teacher from 901 Oakdale Road Liz Acosta, Receptionist C&FS to their new facility locat- Michael Glauner, Youth Development Facilitator ed at 524 Kansas Avenue Odisho Shabdin, Preschool Teacher in Modesto. Pat Machado-Vega, Administrative This isn’t the fi rst Assistant I move the snigah ihtak Rachel Valenzuela, Event Planning Specialist II Graphics Department Richard Cato, Vocational Food Services has made over the years. Instructional Assistant Jim Hiett, Graphics Tech- Pictured above Jim Hiett, Graphics Technician Sarah Klein, Para Educator Severe nician II, has helped with three moves II, has worked at SCOE 35 years and has been Scott McDaniel, Alternative Ed. Teacher during his 35 years at SCOE. “We moved through three Graphics Department moves. Sean Louns, Para Educator Severe twice to buildings at County Center III. locate. This third move had tougher lo- Those were simpler moves because we gistics to overcome. But we are moved in Staff on the Move didn’t have as much equipment to re- and open for buisness,” said Hiett. Dani Khayou, Network Engineer II Ray Klinkefus, Network Systems Technician III Fitness Challenge Month Kicks Off Steve Hagemann, Director III, Business Services SCOE staff participated in a “Walk Around” on February SCOE Job Listings 1 to help kick off the 11th An- Classifi ed nual Fitness Challenge. • Para Educator Severe 1:1 (Profi cient Sign- To date, 21 teams have Language Skills Required) signed up to track fi tness ac- • Short Term Utility Worker (Position is lo- tivities, eat healthier and fo- cated in Sonora) Open Until Filled • Substitute Cadet Ranger/Trainer cus on overall well-being. • Substitute Early Childhood Associate For more information on Teacher 2015-2016 the Fitness Challenge, check • Substitute Early Childhood Teacher 2015- out the website at www.stan- 2016 coe.org/go/fi tness • Substitute Licensed Vocational Nurse Open Until Filled • Substitute Para Educator 2015-2016 Pictured: Staff from H Street kicked off the Fitness Challenge Certifi cated with a mile walk in downtown Modesto. The following certifi cated positions are for the 2015-16 Eligibility Pool - Open until fi lled: • Alternative Ed. Teacher Temporary Con- tract Positions • Charter Academic Instructor-Science (50%) • Full Inclusion Teacher of the Visually Im- paired & Mobility • School Nurse • Substitute Teacher • Teacher Alternative Education • Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Applications are available on-line on SCOE’s website under the “Employment” tab.

Birthday Wishes FYI February Birthdays New Address for Celeste Offi ce The Hal DeArmond Early Childhood Ronald Barber 1 Randall Boyd 21 Cheryl Boyd 2 Cheryl Goulart 21 Administration Building located on Ernest Gong 2 Sarah Klein 21 Celeste Drive has an offi cial new address Brenda Guerrero 2 Peter Macfarlane 21 - 1325 Celeste Drive, Modesto, CA Krislynne Helbling 2 Elizabeth Arthur 22 95355-2402. Kathryn Uyeno 2 Lisa Henry 22 Wear Your College Logo to Work Lizette Guzman 3 Joshua Roe 22 Day - February 5, 2016 Jose Marquez 3 Richard McClure 23 Staff and students are encouraged to Teri Esquivel 4 Leonard Rodrigues 23 Wear College Logo apparel to work/ Crystal Hernandez 4 Stephen Valgos Jr 23 school in support of college awareness. Billy Ramirez 4 Veronique Alexander 24 Ingvar Hallsteinsson 5 Laurie James 24 Staff participating in the Fitness Darith Keo 5 Cindy Meadows 24 Challenge can earn extra points if they Marjorie Miller 5 Patti Wilkinson 24 wear college gear. In addition, staff Lisa Cowan 6 Eleana Garcia 25 will host an open house in the Career Kathryn Lewis 6 Pamela Juarez 25 & College Planning offi ce (2nd fl oor at Phillip Lopez Jr 6 Carol Shaible 25 H Street) on February 5 from 9:00 a.m. - Linda Ringsby 6 Delores Day 26 1:00 p.m. Jamie Johnson Siecke 7 Kerri Lacour 26 JFK School & PTO Spaghetti Dinner Alyson Padgett 7 Marcia Perkins 26 Nancy Polsky 7 Toni Breshears 27 Fundraiser - March 19, 2016 Irene Esquivel 8 Dayna Filippi 27 Music, prize drawings and a spaghetti Mercedes Virgen 8 Alberto Gutierrez 27 dinner is slated for the annual JFK Leticia Jimenez 9 Michelle Higginson 27 School fundraiser. The event will take Terri McNabb 9 Joe Pasillas 28 place at Howard Training Center, Witmer Tammy Moreno 9 Shanon Pata 28 Hall (1424 Stonum Rd.). Tickets are Brandon Ellenburg 10 Karen Walden 28 $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 Lawanda Butcher 11 & under. All proceeds benefi t the JFK Heather Capitelli 13 Special Olympics. Call 541-2301 to Janet Holbrook 13 March Birthdays purchase tickets in advance or arrange Shawnda Pombo 13 for to go meals. Kyle Sires 13 Norman Alberti 1 Gail Skinner-Migliore 13 Trisha Beal 2 Pre-Retirement Seminar Slated for Luke Hibbard 15 Hilma Davidson 2 CalPERS Adam Kimura 15 Aaron Hodge 2 Date: March 5, 2016 Ian Stambaugh 15 Debra Campbell 3 Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Leisa Turner 15 Yolanda Medina 3 Location: Petersen Event Center (720 Elaine Garcia 16 Steve Sims 4 12th Street, Modesto) Valerie Alvarez 18 Sophia Alexi 5 To pre-register call (800) 632-2128 Sarah Horylev 18 Tamzen Millen 5 extension 1005. Lauren Rose 18 Bertha Aherne 6 Lana Sloan 18 Margaret Gilmore 6 The Backwards Juan Allala 19 Debbie Gitthens 6 Name Game! Michelle McCrae 19 Jessica Hankins 6 Lorraine Miller 19 Karen Marchetti 6 Buried within the text of this newsletter Ricky Bispo 20 Mary Silveira 6 is the name (printed backwards) of Dora Bonales 20 Noreen Storey 6 an employee chosen at random. Find Frances Cuevas 20 Irma DeCosta 7 your name and win a $10.00 gift Francis Mendes 20 Kathi Dunham-Filson 7 card. Call 238-1709 by February 25 to Emiley Poisson 20 Kevin Gaff ney 7 claim your prize. Stanislaus County Offi ce of Education •1100 H Street • Modesto, CA 95354 • (209) 238-1700 The County Connection is a monthly employee publication of the Superintendent of Schools Communication Coordinators Stanislaus County Offi ce of Education. Tom Changnon Cynthia Fenech Comments and contributions to the newsletter are encouraged. Assistant Superintendent Judy Leitz Contact Cynthia Fenech at 238-1704 or by e-mail [email protected] or Susan Rich Judy Leitz at 238-1709 or [email protected]