The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) is pleased to announce this year’s San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year finalists and the School Counselor of the Year winner.
All Teacher of the Year finalists and winners of the Classified Employee of the Year and School Counselor of the Year awards will be honored on June 8, 2023, at the San Joaquin County Classified Employees, School Counselor, and Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration Dinner. County classified winners were announced in March.
Honorees are recognized for their outstanding commitment and dedication to education and San Joaquin County students. The 2022-23 Teacher of the Year will be announced at the dinner, sponsored by Self-Help Federal Credit Union. The dinner will also be an occasion to recognize Dr. Cathy Nichols-Washer, Lodi Unified School District Superintendent, who is retiring this year.
The School Counselor of the Year distinction is new to the county this year. Winners of San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year and Classified Employees of the Year are county nominees for California Department of Education recognition programs. For more information about California Teacher of the Year, go to www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/ct/. For more information about California Classified School Employee of the Year, go to www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cl/.
The School Counselor of the Year, each Classified Employee of the Year and each Teacher of the Year finalist will receive $400. The 2022-23 Teacher of the Year will receive $1,000. The award money is courtesy of Self-Help Federal Credit Union.
San Joaquin County School Counselor of the Year:
Erica Contreras-Suarez
Live Oak and Needham elementary schools, Lodi Unified School District
San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year Finalists:
Debbi Crawford
Wagner-Holt Elementary School, Lodi Unified School District
Ann Pendleton
Ripon High School, Ripon Unified School District
Rebecca Harms
Come Back Kids - Alpine, San Joaquin County Office of Education
Richard Newton
North Elementary School, Tracy Unified School District
Tulia Cobián
Collegeville Elementary School, Escalon Unified School District
San Joaquin County Classified Employees of the Year:
CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Karen Ventura
Waverly Elementary School, Linden Unified School District
CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Gustavo Albisu
Mossdale Elementary School, Manteca Unified School District
PARAPROFESSIONAL
Joseph Camacho
Jacobson Elementary School, Tracy Unified School District
SECURITY SERVICES
Chad Simas
Sierra High School, Manteca Unified School District
SKILLED TRADES
Peter Lilienstein
Lodi Unified School District
TECHNICAL SERVICES
Pamela Mendoza
San Joaquin County Office of Education
TRANSPORTATION
Enna Black
Jefferson School, Jefferson Elementary School District
MEDIA: For more information about individual honorees or to coordinate coverage of the June 8 Awards Dinner, contact the SJCOE Public Information Office.
What: 2023 San Joaquin County Classified Employees, School Counselor, and Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration Dinner
When: June 8, Thursday, at 6 p.m.
Where: San Joaquin County Office of Education
Wentworth Education Center, Burwood Auditorium
2707 Transworld Drive, Stockton