SCOE Announces Names of Seven “Employees Making a Difference” to Represent Stanislaus County at Statewide Recognition Program
The Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region VII partnered to honor outstanding classified (non-supervisory) education employees in Stanislaus County. Called “Employees Making a Difference,” school districts throughout the county selected their own honorees and forwarded nominations to SCOE. Twenty-nine outstanding classified staff were honored at the event on January 18, 2023, and seven honorees were selected to represent Stanislaus County in the California Department of Education’s statewide recognition program. The representatives (one from each work-category) announced were:
- Teresa Altom, Maintenance, Operations and Transportation, Hart Ransom Unified School District, Transportation Services Category
- Deanna Bispo, Campus Assistant, Modesto City Schools, Security Services Category
- Lesli Hodge, Administrative Secretary II, Turlock Unified School District, Clerical & Administrative Services Category
- Martha Romo, Para-professional/Bilingual, Turlock Unified School District, Paraprofessional Services Category
- Marcus Turner, Athletic Trainer, Turlock Unified School District, Health & Student Services Category
- Hildelisa Villa, Nutrition Services Assistant II, Modesto City Schools, Food & Nutrition Services Category
- George Walls, Lead Custodian/MOT Director, Hickman Community Charter District, Custodial & Maintenance Services Category
Also, during the event, Iliana Maratty from the Stanislaus County Office of Education received the annual Jane Johnston Civility Award for exemplifying the principles of civility both at work and in her personal life.
“Teachers, principals, & superintendents know that the success or failure of any school or district office depends on the competency, passion, and hard work of a talented support staff,” said Scott Kuykendall, Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools. “When I was first hired as an assistant principal, I was told by a veteran principal, ‘There are two people in the district who can make or break you. It is not the superintendent or the board president. It is your secretary and custodian. Take care of them and you’ll be a success.’ That was not only true, but one of the best pieces of advice I ever received.”
To learn more about the program visit https://www.stancoe.org/go/EMAD
