Board Recognizes February 2005 Employees of the Month

Vicki Williams, a para-educator, was nominated by Principal Pam Nolan for her contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Williams works at SCOE's Prairie Elementary School—West Campus site with children, grades K-3, who have severe disabilities. She is an integral part of a team of four educators who provide instruction to children with many special needs. She also provides support for a student who needs additional assistance at school and on the school bus. She meets the student at home and rides on the bus to school with him each morning, making the return trip with him in the afternoon. Ms. Williams is highly trained to provide support for this student, who has significant medical needs, and she has developed a strong relationship with the student and his mother. Ms. Williams, who is known for her artistic skills, decorates the school with elaborate, colorful displays that delight the students. She is also the unofficial school photographer, and has provided students and staff with wonderful pictures and albums of trips to the pumpkin patch, River Cats baseball games, and more. Her supervisor says that she is "one of those employees who always wears a smile, has a friendly greeting for every person who enters the building, and demonstrates a love for her students. She is always positive and willing to try new things. Instead of thinking 'can't,' Vicki models 'can too!'" Ms. Williams has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since September 1994.

Certificated Employee of the Month

Bruce Hicks, a Regional Occupational Program teacher, was nominated by Principal Linda Mitchell for his contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Hicks teaches the ROP Nursing Assistant course in SCOE's classroom located at the Bruceville Terrace Skilled Nursing Facility in the South Sacramento/Valley Hi area. Each year he serves approximately 120 high school and adult students. After five weeks of classroom instruction, his students work with the nursing staff to fulfill their community classroom/internship hours while providing care for the facility's residents. At the end of nine weeks, his students take the California Nursing Assistant certification exam. His program turns out trained certified nursing assistants for the Sacramento community, where there is a large shortage. Mr. Hicks is a member of the ROP Marketing Shared Decision-Making Team and the CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Program Shared Decision-Making Team. He has strengthened the partnership between SCOE ROP and the Bruceville Terrace Skilled Nursing Facility by being professional, sensitive to the needs of the facility and his students, and expertly teaching students the skills they need. His supervisor says, "Bruce models a balance of empathy, competence, and ethics for his students who must also master those traits to work successfully in the profession of nursing assistant. It's not a job just anyone can do." Mr. Hicks has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since January 2004.