Wednesday, May 18, 2016Social 5:30 p.m. | Dinner and Program 6:00 p.m.

Riverside Convention Center3637 Fifth Street, Riverside

Riverside County Superintendent of SchoolsKenneth M. Young

Riverside County Board of EducationSusan J. Rainey, Ed.D., President

Wendel W. Tucker, Ph.D., Vice PresidentJeanie B. Corral, MemberBruce N. Dennis, Member

Jay N. Hoffman, Ed.D., MemberElizabeth F. Romero, Member

Ralph R. Villani, Ed.D., Member

County Superintendent’s Cabinet

Diana Asseier, Chief Academic OfficerDivision of Educational Services

Ana Farfan, Executive DirectorOffice of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

Steven Hovey, Chief Personnel OfficerDivision of Personnel Services

Teresa Hyden, Chief Business OfficialDivision of Administration and Business Services

Paul C. JessupRiverside County Deputy Superintendent of Schools

Jeff Vaca, Chief Governmental Relations OfficerDivision of Governmental Relations

Diana Walsh-Reuss, Ed.D., Associate SuperintendentDivision of Children and Family Services andDivision of Student Programs and Services

2016 Riverside County Office of Education

Employee RecognitionWelcome

Paul C. Jessup

Master of Ceremonies Steven Hovey

Dinner

RemarksKenneth M. Young

Years of Service Awards

2016 RCOE Employees of the Year

Classified Employee of the YearLavonne Lee, Division of Educational Services

Site Support Employee of the YearTamara Smith, Division of Student Programs and Services

Principal of the YearDenise Chappell, Division of Student Programs and Services

Classified Administrator of the YearKathleen Beglau, Office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

Certificated Administrator of the YearAnn Vessey, Division of Student Programs and Services

Early Childhood Education Teacher of the YearRebecca Reber, Division of Children and Family Services

Teacher of the YearPaul Anderson, Division of Student Programs and Services

Milo P. Johnson Award of DistinctionChun-Wu Li, Ph.D., Division of Educational Services

Recognition of Retirees

ClosingSteven Hovey

Years of Service Recipients10 Years of Service

Raquel Alvarado, CFSNaquisha Astorga, SPSAmanda Backer, SPSVictoria Bacon, CFSGeorgana Bell, CFSAraceli Beltran, SPSLouvie Benitez-Taitano, SPSShari Booth, SPSCathy Bramer, CFSJodi Bulis, SPSLance Cacanindin, ESKarrie Carlson, ESVincent Chugbo, SPSPamela Cochennet, SPSMichael D’Amico, ABSKathleen Del Real, SPSEric Diaz, ABSRaquel Eisner, CFSCarol Fuentes, SPSPatricia Galvez, CFS

Kelli Gollnick, CFSRosel Gonzales, ABSMaribelle Gonzalez, SPSSilvia Gonzalez, CFSDeborah Gordon, CFSGustavo Gutierrez, ABSMary Heitz, SPSTeresa Hernandez, CFSBernard Holmes, ABSOranda James-Tatum, SPSJudith Jimenez, CFSCarrie-Ann Jorgensen, SPSMary Kay Kelley, ABSBertha Magdaleno, CFSFarah Martin Del Campo, CFSNorma Martinez, ESVictoria Martinez, ESArmenia Murphy, CFSLeslie Nelson, CFSDiem-Han Nunez, CFS

Beverly Ortega, ESMartin Ramirez, SPSViviane Rizkallah, ABSShirley Roath, ESDonald Robinson, ESLeticia Romo, SPSMichael Ruiz, ESNereida Ruiz, CFSBrenda Saldana, SPSCorrine Salgado, CFSNorma Santiesteban, CFSEvelyn Santos, ABSSandra Uribe, ESAngel Van Horn, ESPamela Veith, ESHeriberto Villa Perea, SPSJess Walker, SPSSandra Wellen, SPS

15 Years of ServiceRoy Abshire, ABSAlice Allen, SPSJazmin Arenas de Fuentes, SPSCarmen Arizaga, ESMarsha Athan, SPSAngelica Basquez, CFSLaura Bierma, SPSManuel Bravo, ABSJennifer Calkins, SPSTanya Chagolla, SPSLatona Corning, ABSJohn Crittenden, SPSDaniel Dike, SPSJames Eisenhower Jr., SPSMagdy Farag, SPSDelia Fierro, SPSLeticia Gaeta, CFSNorma Galvez, ABSPaul Gamboa, CFSMonica Garcia, CFSMichele Gayler, SPSJamal Gerren, ESRosalind Griffin, CFS

Robert Gwynne Jr., ABSPeter Hargraves, SPSMaria Hernandez, CFSPatty Hernandez, SPSJulie Jamison, ESSean Johnson, ABSRobert Jones, ABSBrenda Kelley, CFSDebra Kennel, ABSAnnette Kitagawa-Keebler, ESPhilip Kornblum, ABSLeveria Lee, SPSBillie Leland, ABSMichael Livingston, ESSusan Loria, CFSKarin Marquez, CFSMaria Martinez, ESDeann McCarty, SPSMelanie McLean, CFSKarla Mora, CFSNorma Nava, SPSHeidi Perales, SPSApril Ramos, ABS

Alejandrina Rodriguez, SPSGildardo Rodriguez, CFSRobin Rozzana, PSSerjio Saldana, SPSBertha Sanchez, CFSGabriela Sanchez, CFSMichelle Sanchez, ESRaul Sanchez, ESSandra Seefeldt, SPSSusan Sheehan, SPSSuzette Simmons, ESRonald Sissons, ABSMichelle Tapia, SPSSandi Torres, SPSPablo Vasquez-Urbano, ESNicholas Vega, ABSShenee Washington Smith, SPSPatricia Webster, CFSTheresa Wells, ORCSSDonna Woods, ESElke Zoske, CFS

20 Years of ServiceMichael Bochicchio, SPSEvangeline Burton, SPSAna Cano-Alvarez, CFSRamona Contreras, CFSAnn Davis, ABSRichard D’Souza, ABSGail Edwards, SPSDonna Flores, SPSManuela Garcia, CFS

Silvia Garcia, CFSDiana Gregg, SPSDavid Hollis, ABSJill Johnson, CFSMaybelle Lebbie, SPSMary Mende, SPSIsmelda Ortega, SPSLorraine Reyes, CFSVictor Reyes, ABS

Alma Salas, ESSonia Sanchez, ABSNancy Sheets, ABSPatricia Smith, CFSSuzanne Tanenbaum, ABSElaine Uribe, CFSEsmirna Valencia, CFSEsmeralda Veik, SPSMichael Wibben, ABS

25 Years of ServicePatricia Abbott, SPSCynthia Caudill, CFSJeanie Hedden, SPS

James Hunt, ESCheryl Nicolosi, SPS

Lisa Ortega, SPSDana Smith, PS

Debora Smith, CFS

30 Years of ServiceRonda Gober, SPSSylvia Lowe, CFS

Deborah McGrath, ABSDeborah Perez, SPS

BeaAnn Reynolds, ESKelly Weakly, SPS

Cynthia Young, ABSKelly Young, ABS

35 Years of ServiceMark Gilmore, ABSJoyce Grafton, SPS

Rose Leach, SPSCarolyn Mannlein, SPS

Pattie Pollock-Hinojos, SPS

40 Years of ServiceSteven Hovey, PS

Years of Service Recipients

Classified Employee of the Year Lavonne LeeAdministrator’s Secretary, Career Technical EducationDivision of Educational Services

Lavonne Lee is known for being the first person at her desk each morning to make sure Career Technical Education teachers get a good start on their days. She is also famous for her cheerful attitude and above average organizational skills. After nearly 18 years of service at RCOE, she is most often described as the “go-to person within the unit for knowledge and assistance and is always willing to assist other secretaries and managers.” Other nominators said she is “extremely productive and flexible, energetic, caring, eager and enthusiastic” or simply “the backbone of her unit.” Her goal is to “make sure educators and students have what they need to be successful.”

Message from Lavonne:I humbly appreciate and am honored by this recognition. My CTE family has always been supportive, and I consider this a TEAM accolade because our goal with which we exceed daily is to provide extraordinary service to our students, parents, and staff. TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More! I truly believe in promoting and encouraging higher education, and I’ve never considered my daily efforts a chore. It really is a joy. Special thanks to my coordinator/principal, Lori Fry, for her encouragement, loyalty, support, and guidance. You are appreciated! I’m celebrating this honor with my husband, Reggie, and our children, Nicole and Chris. They are my blessings who remind me why I wake each morning with a smile. “Always let your light shine for others to see your joy.” - Matthew 5:15-16

Award Recipients

Site Support Employee of the YearTamara SmithSchool Nutrition Program Specialist, Alternative EducationDivision of Student Programs and Services

Tamara Smith has been given unique and diverse assignments in Student Programs and Services for the last seven years, and she has handled them all with expertise and professionalism. She makes sure thousands of deserving students get at least one good meal a day in her role of supervising RCOE’s school lunch program. At the same time, she oversees distribution of thousands of textbooks that students need to further their education. Her highest praise came from co-workers, who said, “Quality staff members like her enjoy seeing other staff members win. She enjoys helping others succeed and is not worried about who receives the credit.”

Message from Tamara:It is such an honor to be named Site Support Employee of the Year. I am proud to be involved in endeavors that remove barriers to learning and make a distinct difference in the lives of children. Many wonderful people have helped to guide me on this wonderful journey called life. I must give credit where credit is due. My biological family gave me the heart of a warrior and the mind of a scholar. My medical family gave me the tools to be a survivor rather than a victim. My type one diabetic family gave me the ability to laugh at life’s small miseries and find strength within. Last, but not least, my RCOE family gave me wings and let me fly. I hold the lights of all of these special people in my heart. Their flames warm me when I am cold and light the way during dark moments.

Award Recipients

Principal of the YearDenise ChappellPrincipal, Lincoln East, Special EducationDivision of Student Programs and Services

Denise Chappell has devoted 27 years of her life to helping special education students in the Division of Student Programs and Services. She has overcome great personal challenges to become a teacher and principal, with her experience now benefitting literally thousands of students facing similar struggles. Her influence extends beyond RCOE to the communities she serves. She earned the City of Palm Springs Citizen of the Year Award, and she was selected to serve on the board of the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission. A nominator said, “She is able to give an especially powerful, empathetic, and persuasive voice to the dreams, rights, and needs of individuals with disabilities because she continues to grow through, and with, her own dysfluency.”

Message from Denise:I am truly humbled to be honored with the Principal of the Year Award. I am fortunate. RCOE was willing to take a gamble on a young girl from Vermont who did not interview well due to a severe stutter. My husband Don and my sons Jacob and Aiden have been my greatest supporters. They have allowed me to dedicate time to my life’s work—even when it meant taking the time away from them. The great people at the Riverside County Office of Education have helped me to realize I can achieve and be comfortable with being a genuine version of my best self! I am successful because of the people who believed in my abilities. There is not a person in this room to whom I do not owe a debt of gratitude. So, thank you, for allowing me to be a help for others and for believing in me.

Award Recipients

Classified Administrator of the YearKathleen BeglauDigital Marketing and Communications ManagerOffice of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

Kathy Beglau has guided RCOE through a long list of changes in her 16 years with the Office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. Arriving at RCOE shortly after the “Y2K crisis”, she has been involved in countless shifts in how technology, web pages, and now social media are used to help educate children and “tell our story” to the public. Through it all, one nominator said her calm demeanor and cheerful personality have enabled her to work with a variety of internal and external clients. She deals with change, and is also a change maker. Another nominator said, “In an attempt to catalog even a fraction of Kathy’s diverse skill sets, I have to say that I believe she has developed the most necessary skill: the ability to build trust and, in turn, influence change.”

Message from Kathy:It is truly an honor to receive this award, and I would like to thank everyone who supported my nomination. To receive the endorsement of my colleagues, who I respect and admire, makes this an especially meaningful recognition. I would like to thank my family for their love and support, and especially my husband who keeps me energized with his sage advice and sense of humor. RCOE is extraordinary because of its dedicated employees, and each day I am inspired by my colleagues who work tirelessly to support students in Riverside County. I am grateful to them for sharing their passion and for giving me the opportunity to amplify their accomplishments. RCOE’s leaders have great vision for the future of education, and I thank Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Kenneth M. Young and his Cabinet for the role they have afforded me in making their vision a reality.

Award Recipients

Certificated Administrator of the YearAnn VesseyExecutive Director, Special EducationDivision of Student Programs and Services

As the Executive Director for Special Education, Ann Vessey supervises more than 500 staff members, but still has time to visit classrooms and keep connected to teachers and students who appreciate her personal touch. Her eight years in Student Programs and Services won her praise from nominators who describe her as “tireless, invaluable, visionary, creative, caring, and professional.” Beyond RCOE, Ann is passing her expertise on to a whole new generation of special educators by teaching at California State University, San Bernardino. She has helped create many RCOE programs that have become models for special education across the state and nation.

Message from Ann:I am humbled to receive this award but it is truly for the entire Special Education Unit. My parents taught all eight of us the importance of an education and to work together. A special thanks to my husband Jim, and my four children, who have put up with the long hours I have worked for many years to provide quality education programs to children with “special needs”. Thanks to Kenn Young for trusting me to follow in Dr. Diana’s “shoes” nine years ago and to Diana for walking ahead of me on this journey. I could not do my job every day without the terrific clerical team that supports me daily led by Trish, the administrative team of principals, managers that support our programs, and the fantastic teachers and instructional assistants that are the “boots” on the ground with our kiddos. You all make it look easy! Go TEAM!

Award Recipients

Early Childhood Education Teacher of the YearRebecca ReberPermit Teacher, CalSafe, Children’s Services UnitDivision of Children and Family Services

In her 15 years with Children’s Services, Rebecca Reber has become known for her uncanny ability to calm and guide teen parents through the most difficult times so they can stay in school while knowing their infants receive the best of care. It’s a unique role, nominators said, which requires Rebecca to “build a positive and supportive relationship with each student to create a solid foundation for learning.” They described her as “confident, enthusiastic, tireless” and “an extremely talented teacher.” The support she provides to parents and their children “is not only the education they deserve, but also a genuine hope—a hope for their future.”

Message from Rebecca:I am so honored to have received this award and have so many people to be thankful for in my teaching journey. To my parents, thank you for being wonderful role models, expecting the best from me, and always loving me. Thank you to Michael, Tyler, and Alison who love and support me every day. To Donna, Evangeline, Paula, and all our IA’s, thank you for sharing your knowledge and creativity with me over the years. This award symbolizes all our growth, tears, and hard work! To Candace, thank you for always believing in me—even when I added some excitement to your life. To Sharon Baskett and Dr. Diana, thank you for your passion and commitment to Cal-SAFE! To Leslie, Corrine, Linda, and Michelle, I’d be a mess without you guys. I am only the teacher I am today because of each and every one of you. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

Award Recipients

Teacher of the YearPaul AndersonDeaf and Hard of Hearing Itinerant Program, Special EducationDivision of Student Programs and Services

Overcoming his own hearing challenges since grade school, Paul Anderson has devoted his life to helping hundreds of deaf and hard of hearing students in RCOE programs since 2002. His work involves traveling between districts in Hemet, Perris, Banning, Beaumont, Jurupa and San Jacinto, always with a smile on his face and a calming, reassuring hand for students and their families. Nominators noted how his own struggle “has given him the experience and empathy to be able to change his students’ lives for the better.” They describe him as “encouraging, a role model, and an irreplaceable asset.” Paul is a teacher who lets students know “there are no limitations to what they accomplish with hard work and dedication.”

Message from Paul:When I was selected for this honor, I was a bit overwhelmed, as so many have played a crucial part in my success. Over the years, there have been amazing mentors as well as wonderful instructional aide support from Randy Woolard and Jessica Moyers. I want to thank each and every one of our deaf and hard of hearing itinerant team for selecting me for this honor. Their wonderful support and inspiration translates into what we do for kids. As a TEAM, we have accomplished much! Our RCOE mission is that “we build bridges for disadvantaged students” and promote access to classroom instruction and communication. It is these kids, so much like me, with a significant hearing loss, that struggle in a typical day. Together, as a TEAM, we build bridges to promote their success in the classroom, in the community, and in life. Thanks to my BRIDGE building partners!

Award Recipients

Milo P. Johnson Award of DistinctionChun-Wu Li, Ph.D.Administrator I, Instructional ServicesDivision of Educational Services

Chun-Wu Li knows that to help students, teachers need data – and lots of it. She is the person they call not just for the numbers, but the “thoughtful feedback based on the most recent research” they will use in classrooms every day. She is known for explaining complex statistics and funding mechanisms in a way everyone can understand, and for always being on call to help out a colleague no matter how tight the deadline or daunting the task. Nominators said Dr. Li is “professional, competent, resourceful and committed to providing extraordinary services on a regular basis.” While she is very humble, they said, her expertise is sought out not just at RCOE, but by state and national educational leaders who know she will “have all the answers.”

Message from Chun-Wu:I am greatly humbled and honored to receive the 2016 Milo P. Johnson Award of Distinction. I am thankful for my family’s unfailing love and support, especially that of my parents who have continually encouraged, inspired, and motivated me. Thank you to my RCOE friends. You keep me learning, growing, and transforming. I am proud to work for RCOE – simply a dream work place that always challenges me and reinforces my dedication to lifelong learning and service. I am blessed to be in this position. For that opportunity, I thank God. Finally, I’d like to thank my husband, Dr. Victor Li, who pampers me every single day. No matter how late I am coming home, he always has a delicious, hot meal waiting for me.

Award Recipients

Retirees

Marsha Athan, SPS

Sheryl Bell, SPS

Laura Bierma, SPS

Maria Bobb, SPS

Marisela Canela, SPS

Tina Clarke, ABS

Cheryl Dollar, CFS

Michele Gayler, SPS

Candace Hobert, SPS

James Hunt, ES

Doris Jones, SPS

Valentina Lopez, CFS

Maria Smith, SPS

William Spires, ABS

Maria Villaseñor, CFS

Dr. Milo P. JohnsonJune 17, 1914 - December 25, 2004

The Milo P. Johnson Award of Distinction was created in 1999 in honor of long-time Riverside County Board of Education Member Dr. Milo P. Johnson. The recipient is selected by the Riverside County Board of Education. The award honors one employee who continually exhibits extraordinary service and support in all they do. The recipient demonstrates and possesses traits and characteristics such as

continuously seeking opportunities to innovate, improve, and expand their services, understands their role in contributing to student success, and provides service that

is prompt, courteous, honest, and accurate in anticipating and responding to the needs of those we serve. Previous recipients include:

Gary TaylorGerri IsraelsonMarilyn WarnerClara RodriguezGinger Andrews

Rick StromMoana Hendricks

Vicki SaucedaTheresa Swickla-Ring

Karen RadtkeMary Liette

Kelly LondenbergAdriana Marshall

June MillerSylvia GonzalezLanelle Gordin

Joan Patrick

www.rcoe.us

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