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
Daphanee Manker was nominated by Special Education Principal Sharon Holstage for her contributions to the Special Education Department, where she serves as a Staff Secretary. In her role as staff secretary, she provides support to SCOE's preschool programs and to the Special Education program as a whole. Ms. Manker has been instrumental in the behind-the-scenes work for many of the Special Education Department's accomplishments over the past several years. She helped organize the first regional MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) training ever held in northern California. She has been a key player in organizing specialized equipment that is not currently in use so that staff, as well as SCOE's SELPA partners, can reduce costs by re-using and recycling equipment. Ms. Manker has excelled in learning the nuances of using the Special Education Information System (SEIS) and provides calm support to teachers through all of the IEP meetings, state mandated tests for students, required paperwork, and much more. Says her supervisor: "Daphanee is the one of the most effective and efficient people I have ever known. In her own quiet way, she is able to complete an amazing amount of work." Daphanee Manker has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since November 2005.
Certificated Employee of the Month
Paula Emmons, a SH Teacher for students with severe disabilities, was nominated by Special Education Principal Sharon Holstage for her contributions to the Special Education Department of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Emmons is an early childhood special education teacher who supports 12 students with significant needs who are located either at Prairie Head Start within the Elk Grove Unified School District or at the Child Development Center at Cosumnes River College. Ms. Emmons has worked as a teacher for the past three-years and already displays the wisdom and expertise of a seasoned teacher by providing a rich and inclusive environment for her students. She presents her students with many opportunities to work on functional motor skills, communication skills, literacy, daily living skills and more and all within a 12 hour preschool week. Ms. Emmons operates one of SCOE's "up and coming" MOVE demonstration programs for preschool inclusion. Says her supervisor, "Paula is a wonderful resource for families, supporting them throughout their first school experience. She collaborates effectively with Head Start staff, her para-educators and support staff in order to provide a high quality preschool experience for her students." Paula Emmons has been a Sacramento County Office of Education employee since August 2007.
Substitute of the Quarter (Spring)
Matt Richter was nominated by Chief Administrator of Human Resources Effie Crush for his contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education as an outstanding substitute employee.
For the 2009-10 school year, Mr. Richter has worked approximately 115 days. He has worked exclusively in SCOE's Special Education Program for students with severe disabilities. Within that program, he has worked in the full-spectrum of classrooms from those for preschool age children through those who are college age. His responsibilities have included health assistance, student safety, charting, working one-on-one or with small groups of students, maintaining the daily schedule, and general support of other staff members.
When Mr. Richter began working for SCOE in 2007, he worked as a substitute para-educator and for the Summer School programs for the last two years. In September of this year, after receiving his Bachelor's degree from UC Davis and passing the CBEST test, he also began working as a substitute teacher. He is one of the most requested substitutes within the Special Education department. Says one supervisor, "Matt is a great sub in my class because he's such a self-starter. He definitely has a great rapport with the students, and seems to genuinely enjoy getting to know them. The students seem to like him as well, and are responsive to his direction."
Matt Richter has been a substitute employee for the Sacramento County Office of Education employee since July 2007.