San Joaquin County announces employee, teacher of the year honorees for 2021-2022
From custodial and maintenance services to food and nutrition services, eight school employees have been announced as recipients of the San Joaquin County Classified Employees of the Year by the San Joaquin County Office of Education.
The eight winners will be honored on June 9, at the San Joaquin County Classified Employees and Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration Dinner where the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year will be announced.
“Honorees will be recognized for their outstanding commitment and dedication to education and to San Joaquin County students. The 2022 Teacher of the Year will be announced at the dinner,” the San Joaquin County Office of Education said in a statement.
The eight winners, who were nominated by their colleagues, were announced in late March. The Teacher of the Year finalists were in late April.
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The Classified School Employees of the Year nominees are evaluated based on work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, local support, and enhancement.
The Classified School Employees of the Year winners and the Teacher of the Year winner are county nominees for the California Department of Education recognition program.
Both Classified School Employees of the Year winners and Teacher of the Year finalists will receive $400 each from Premier Community Credit Union, and the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year will receive a $1,000 award.
Classified School Employees of the Year winners
Kelly Cabral, Clerk I, clerical and administrative services, Tom Hawkins Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School District: Cabral has been in her position for the past six years.
Arthur Medina, maintenance lead, custodial and maintenance services, Lincoln Unified School District: Medina has been in his position for 5½ years.
Rachelle Metcalfe, nutrition services lead, food, and nutrition services, Lathrop Elementary School, Manteca Unified School District: Metcalfe has been working in the position for more than 16 years.
Hector Calderon, intervention and prevention specialist, health and student services, one. Program, San Joaquin County Office of Education: Calderon has been working in his position since 2012.
Mary Gomez, special education and paraprofessional, Waterloo Middle School, Linden Unified School District: Gomez has been in her position for eight years.
Maria "Lilia" Martinez DeArredondo, school site assistant, security services, Great Valley Elementary School, Manteca Unified School District: Martinez DeArredondo has worked in her position for more than nine years.
Debra Yanez, work order technician/ dispatch, skilled trades, Stockton Unified School District: Yanez has worked in her position for more than seven years.
Kitty Towers, technology coordinator, technical services, Banta Unified School District: Towers has more than 27 years of working in the position.
Finalists for Teacher of the Year include:
Staci Diaz, El Portal Middle School, Escalon Unified School District
Tammy Hurst, Altamont Elementary School, Lammersville Unified School District
Gary Pease, Jefferson School, Jefferson Elementary School District
Annie Thompson, Ripona Elementary School, Ripon Unified School District
Robert Winterhalter, Lodi High School, Lodi Unified School District
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County releases employee, teachers of the year winners
