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 that complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County.
Classified Employee of the Month
Parrish Chavez, Printing and Production Specialist, was nominated by Manager Paul Roesch for his contributions to the Support Operations Department of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Chavez works in Printing and Production Services, which is located at the Mather Power and Energy Building. He is responsible for assisting clients with their printing and copying needs, and is usually the first point of contact between clients and the Print Shop. Mr. Chavez helps ensure that all projects are completed correctly, with quality assurance, and within the time line the client has requested. His supervisor considers him the "vital link" between the Print Shop and SCOE staff, always ready to assist anyone with a project or task, and approaching each job "with energy and a smile." His supervisor says that Mr. Chavez exemplifies the Print Shop's motto: "We are not part of the problem. We are part of the solution." Mr. Chavez has actively supported SCOE programs and events such as the annual Employee Recognition Day. He also served as a mentor of an at-risk student in SCOE's Community Schools Academic Mentor Program. Mr. Chavez has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since December, 1997.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Terry Ferguson, a Teacher in the Infant Development Program (IDP), was nominated by Principal Gina Guarneri for her contributions to the Special Education education team at SCOE's Peter J. Shields Infant Center located in Rancho Cordova. As the team's Family Connection Staff liaison, she works with parents who are receiving IDP services in planning Family Connection activities. According to her supervisor, "she has been an enthusiastic, committed partner in supporting the families." Together they have planned many successful evening and daytime Family Connection activities. Another project organized by Ms. Ferguson is a partnership with the Rancho Cordova Parks and Recreation District which created an inclusive toddler program for families of all backgrounds. The program provides the IDP children and parents an opportunity to meet other local families with young children and to play together. A California Department of Education consultant who observed the program reported being "very impressed" with the collaboration between Ms. Ferguson, the Parks and Recreation teacher, and the parents. Ms. Ferguson most recently served as Master Teacher for a student teacher from California State University, Sacramento. She worked closely with the student teacher, who uses a wheelchair, to provide an intensive, quality learning experience. Ms. Ferguson actively participates in inservice training opportunities, including being trained in the Social-Communication Model by Barry Prizant, and in turn shares what she has learned with IDP colleagues. She meets regularly with the IDP Program Specialist to review strategies and problem-solve. Ms. Ferguson, who worked for SCOE as an Infant Technician in the 1980s, returned to SCOE employment in November, 1997.