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 which complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County. Over 230,000 K-12 students are served by public schools in Sacramento County.
Employees of the Month Team
Members of the Orientation Unit of the El Centro Jr./Sr. High School were nominated by Juvenile Court Schools Director Marc Nigel as a team for their contributions to the Sacramento County Office of Education. This team is comprised of Transition Specialist Heidi Bremen-Schmitz, nominated as January Classified Employee of the Month, and Teacher Renee Mauricio and Counselor Cindy Tanaka, nominated as January Certificated Employees of the Month. The Orientation Unit is located at the Youth Detention Facility (also known as Juvenile Hall) operated by Sacramento County Probation. In the words of their supervisor, "The focused work of these employees, working as a team at SCOE's El Centro campus, has in just two short months demonstrated a powerful impact on students. Already this unit operates as though it has been running for years." The unit works with Probation staff to teach students how to navigate Youth Detention Facility services, as well as explaining to them what to expect in both the facility and in juvenile court. Through the work of this unit, students receive dedicated support to promote educational, social, emotional and behavioral success. Unit staff work in concert to review transcripts; assess students in mathematics, language arts and reading; and to create an Individualized Learning Path for each student. Students requiring academic intervention find mathematics and language arts help through the Compass Intervention Program and the Accelerated Reading Program. One of the greatest strengths of the Orientation Unit is the pursuit of resources for students. Such resources may include support to homeless youth or those in foster care, Special Education, WorkAbility job skills development, meeting military service requirements, and counseling. Orientation Unit staff work closely with Probation staff to create positive transitions for students, and this partnership helps prepare students to meet not only their educational goals, but the expectations that will be demanded of them in life beyond the Youth Detention Facility. Their supervisor says, "Renee Mauricio, Cindy Tanaka, and Heidi Bremen-Schmitz have given students the priceless gift of trusting in adults. Students are relieved to talk with these educators and feel empowered to begin anew, and to achieve good things under the most challenging of circumstances." He concludes, "The daily work of the Orientation Unit represents something that many of the students at the El Centro Youth Detention Facility have never experienced: a place of learning that is unwavering in the belief in each student's success." Collectively, this team represents more than 43 years of service to the Sacramento County Office of Education. Ms. Bremen-Schmitz was hired by SCOE in March 2005. Ms. Mauricio became a SCOE employee in September 1991. Ms. Tanaka has been a SCOE employee since August 1998.