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
Amos Nugent III, Special Education Technician, was nominated by Principal Felix Duncan for his contributions to the Juvenile Court and Community Schools Program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Nugent works with at-risk students ages 12-18 at SCOE's Gerber Jr./Sr. High School located in South Sacramento. He assists teachers in providing direct instruction to students with behavioral and learning disabilities. During direct instruction, he provides classroom management to help ensure a safe and effective learning environment. Mr. Nugent also leads small groups of students in guided practice on the subjects in which he also helps provide direct instruction. He works with students to help them meet their required literacy and transition goals. Mr. Nugent served as SCOE's liaison and as a chaperone for the 2009 HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) tour. Students' families, too, benefit from his dedication to the educational program of Gerber School. He has organized and helped present a money management workshop series for parents. Outside the school, Mr. Nugent contributes greatly to the community. Among his many civic affiliations is the Greater Sacramento Urban League's Young Professionals organization, for which he helps coordinate and present financial literacy initiatives benefiting local high school students. The Sacramento Observernewspaper named him one of Sacramento's "30 Under 30" of the area's most inspiring young leaders, and he was recognized as one of 16 young local adults in the Nehemiah Corporation of America's "Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program." His supervisor says, "We are fortunate to have someone as gifted as Mr. Nugent working with our students. He is well-deserving of this Employee of the Month honor." Mr. Nugent has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since April 2008.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Kathy Turner, Regional Occupational Program teacher, was nominated by Assistant Superintendent Tim Taylor for her contributions to the Career-Technical Education program of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Turner teaches students in Clinical and Administrative Chiropractic Assisting classes at SCOE's Yolo High School setting in West Sacramento. In the course of her work, she certifies students in First Aid and CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Area chiropractic professionals have considerable regard for the quality of Ms. Turner's instructional skills; her students achieve an extremely high rate of job placement. Ms. Turner shares her expertise by opening up her classroom to SCOE staff several times a year. These events serve to provide opportunities for her students to provide therapeutic services and interact with the public. SCOE staff are most receptive, frequently asking her, "When is the next event?" In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Turner has helped with SCOE's WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation. She has worked with administrators and teachers to form SCOE's original PAR (Peer Assistance and Review) Committee and has served as PAR Chairperson. Ms. Turner is also active in SCOE's Teachers Association, filling numerous roles. Comments her supervisor, "Ms. Turner's teaching skills and her initiative are highly regarded. Her dedication to her students, to the organization and to Career-Technical Education greatly benefit SCOE." Ms. Turner has been employed by the Sacramento County Office of Education since January 1990.
Substitute of the Quarter (Fall)
Substitute Para-Educator Kenneth Sanders has been nominated by Effie Crush, Chief Administrator, Human Resources for his contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Mr. Sanders has worked in SCOE's Juvenile Court and Community School settings, as well as in special education instructional programs for students with emotional disabilities. During the past year and a half, he has worked in SCOE classrooms for nearly 350 days as a Para-Educator. He provides support to classroom teachers by working with students in small groups or on an individual basis, as well as assisting in areas of student safety and behavior management. His primary assignments have been of a long-term duration while employees are on leave. "Mr. Sanders is a dedicated member of our educational team who provides stability and continuity to SCOE students while permanent staff are away from their classrooms," report supervisors. "He has been a successful addition to each class in which he has worked." Mr. Sanders has been employed as a substitute Para-Educator by the Sacramento County Office of Education since February 2008.