The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is one of 58 county offices located throughout the state. Approximately 700 full-time and more than 2,500 part-time SCOE staff work year-round providing services which complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in the County of Sacramento. Over 230,000 K-12 students are served by public schools in Sacramento County.
Classified Employee of the Month
Steven Craig, a Para-Educator, was nominated by Principal MaryJo Johnson for his contributions to the Special Education/Severely Handicapped Program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Craig works in the classroom setting at Robert L. McCaffrey Middle School in Galt, which serves students who have various significant physical disabilities. He works closely with the classroom team that is led by teacher Bonita Keisler. His supervisor says that among the attributes that make Mr. Craig an exemplary employee are "his calm demeanor with the students, his reliability and his sense of humor." She notes that he is a role model for all students, especially the young men in the class. Mr. Craig truly cares about each student and will go the extra distance to help each reach his or her goals. Mr. Craig continuously strives to improve the quality of life of every student who comes into the class. He works closely with members of the team to find ways to help students be successful. Concludes his supervisor, "Steve is flexible and a team player, and his calm consistency helps students with behavior challenges to learn better ways of dealing with their issues. Steve truly enjoys being with the students and this is evident in the progress that they make." Mr. Craig has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since September 2003.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Terry Kornelly, a Special Education Teacher, was nominated by Principal Lauren Roth for her contributions to the Special Education/Severely Handicapped Program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Kornelly teaches a class for students with severe physical disabilities at Cordova Villa Elementary School in Rancho Cordova. She is aware of the special needs of every student in her classroom. Her primary methods of instruction used to achieve this objective are through sensory awareness and exploration. Using these methods as guidelines, Ms. Kornelly makes the necessary accommodations and adaptations to meet all levels of student learning, in addition to actively implementing the SCOE-adopted M.O.V.E. (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) philosophy and curriculum. "Best of all," her supervisor says, "the classroom activities she designs are interactive, creative and fun." Ms. Kornelly is known for her exceptional ability to communicate and collaborate closely with families, outside agencies and the Cordova Villa Elementary school staff. She continually learns new ideas to improve her program and is an exemplary teacher, leader and team player. Concludes her supervisor, "Terry is passionate about her career. In her assignment as a teacher for severely handicapped children, she is often faced with challenges and obstacles that most educators never experience. She not only accepts this position, she cherishes it. Terry demonstrates a dedication to teaching each and every day." Ms. Kornelly has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since September 1977.