Two high school English teachers, one from the San Juan Unified School District and one from the River Delta Unified School District, are the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2015. The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) made the announcement at a countywide teacher recognition dinner on August 15.
Michelle Bebout teaches a 9th through 11th grade English at Casa Roble High School in the San Juan Unified School District. Jennifer Walker teaches English and AP English at both Clarksburg Middle School and Delta High School in the River Delta Unified School District.
Both teachers are also AVID certified instructors. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an elective and school-wide system that promotes increased college eligibility and access to rigorous curriculum offering students a clear-cut path to college, beginning in their middle school years.
A committee of education professionals, including previous Teachers of the Year, interviewed the district Teachers of the Year and selected the two finalists. All 16 Sacramento-area teachers will be honored during special Teacher Appreciation Nights hosted by both the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats. Dates and times to be announced.
All of the school districts within the County of Sacramento, along with local charter schools and SCOE, are invited to participate each year in the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program. Larger districts are eligible to submit two entries. Twelve local districts, including SCOE, participated this year. Each district's Teacher of the Year completed a comprehensive application packet, which included an extensive biography and answered questions ranging from personal philosophy of teaching to an understanding of current education issues.
During the awards ceremony, each district Teacher of the Year was introduced by a current or former student, or a student's parent. David W. Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools, and trustees from the Sacramento County Board of Education, presented each of the Teachers of the Year with an award.
Outgoing Teachers of the Year 2014 Deanna Victor (San Juan Unified) and Tim Smith (Elk Grove Unified) announced the names of the honorees. Sacramento County Board of Education President Brian Rivas presented the winners with the Elinor Lincoln Hickey Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by the County Board of Education. Russell Godt, representing the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry, awarded a perpetual trophy to the County Teachers of the Year.
Michelle Bebout and Jennifer Walker are now eligible to advance to the statewide competition, out of which five teachers will be chosen as California Teachers of the Year. Last year, Elk Grove Unified's Tim Smith was chosen as the California Teacher of the Year to represent the state in the national competition.
California Teachers of the Year are responsible for representing the teaching profession in a variety of settings and assisting their teaching colleagues in numerous ways throughout 2015. Their names, and that of the individual selected as the state's nominee to the National Teacher of the Year program, will be announced later in the fall by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.
- Previous Sacramento County Teachers of the Year are listed online.
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program is presented by the Sacramento County Office of Education in partnership with the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento River Cats, Intel Corporation Folsom, SAFE Credit Union, and Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry.
| Photo | Teacher |
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Kimberly Butler Center Joint Unified School District Cyril Spinelli Elementary School 2nd–4th Grade Special Education Studio Interview (YouTube)  Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Patricia Burgess Elk Grove Unified School District John Ehrhardt Elementary School 3rd Grade Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Karen Sarafian-Hames Elk Grove Unified School District Foulks Ranch Elementary School 2nd Grade Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Rebecca Nelson Elverta Joint School District Elverta Elementary School 6th Grade Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Andrea Allen Folsom Cordova Unified School District Russell Ranch Elementary School 1st Grade Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Lyn Neumann Galt Joint Union High School District Liberty Ranch High School Social Science, LINK Crew, Yearbook Advisor Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Mike McKibbon Natomas Unified School District Inderkum High School American Government, AP U.S. Government & Politics, CA Early College Academy Coordinator Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Jennifer Walker • Selected as County TOY 2015 River Delta Unified School District Delta High School 11th & 12th Grade English, AP English Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Holly Paine Robla School District Robla Elementary School 3rd Grade Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Jennifer Clemens Sacramento City Unified School District Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School 9th Grade Medical Science; 11th-12th Grade Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Arlette Garcia Sacramento City Unified School District Earl Warren Elementary School 4th–6th Grade (Looped) Studio Interview (YouTube) |
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Oluchi Okemiri Sacramento County Office of Education Prairie Elementary School—West Campus 4th–6th Grade Special Education Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Michelle Bebout • Selected as County TOY 2015 San Juan Unified School District Casa Roble Fundamental High School 9th–10th Grade English, AVID, AVID Coordinator Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Sue Walden San Juan Unified School District Mary Deterding Elementary School 3rd Grade Rapid Learners Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Sarah Kesty Twin Rivers Unified School District Oakdale Special Education/RSP (now 2nd Grade) Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Allison Taylor Twin Rivers Unified School District Martin Luther King, Jr. Technology Academy 7th–8th Grade Special Education Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |