Veteran educator Jan Valine was honored October 24 by the Sacramento County Board of Education as Teacher of the Year 2008 for the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE).
Valine has been a teacher for 31 years—all but one of those years as a teacher of SCOE's Juvenile Court and Community School students. She currently teaches multiple subjects at the Bowling Day Reporting Center operated by the Sacramento County Probation Department in South Sacramento. Her students range from 12 to 17 years of age and are on juvenile probation.
"The children who attend Ms. Valine's classes are either incarcerated, on probation or have been expelled from school. These children have failed miserably at their comprehensive school. Despite the difficult setting, Ms. Valine has created a rich environment for learning. It is full of life, learning, hope and support to ensure that her students are provided the best in education and the path to return to their home school," said SCOE Assistant Superintendent Tim Taylor.
Valine's work with students is noticed and greatly appreciated by colleagues, students and families.
"Jan Valine has consistently set the high standard in our program for showing concern, care, and the willingness to provide the best possible opportunity to our clients that have failed in other educational programs. Her ability to bond with troubled minors is amazing," said Mike Sarment, Supervising Probation Officer and Program Manager at the Bowling Day Reporting Center.
Valine has served as a SCOE Mentor Teacher and helped establish the organization's Peer Assistance Review program. She was chosen as Certificated Employee of the Month in January 2004 and May 1989, and was the recipient of SCOE's Elizabeth Coleman Quality Commitment Perpetual Award in August 1995.
As Teacher of the Year, Valine strongly encourages others to explore teaching as a profession. "Teaching is one of the most noble, challenging and rewarding professions," she said. "We all want to do something special with our lives and make a difference for others. Teachers do that day-in and day-out, but often may not know when they have touched their students' lives."
Jan Valine earned her M.A. degree in education in the area of Educational Technology, as well as her Clear Supplementary Credential with a focus on Computer Concepts and Applications) from California State University, Sacramento. Her Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies and her Multiple Subjects Life Credential were also earned at CSU Sacramento, as was her Computers in the Classroom Certificate.
Jan Valine was honored at the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Banquet held on September 5, 2007, at the Sacramento Hilton. During the 2007–08 NBA season, she will be honored with all of the Sacramento County school district Teachers of the Year Friday, February 1, 2008, during halftime of the Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets game at ARCO Arena. Tickets for Teacher Appreciation Night, which is presented by Maloof Sports and Entertainment and Intel Corporation Folsom, are available through participating school districts or by contacting April Hagans: (916) 928-3634.