SLO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION sEPTEMBER SLOCOE eNews N elson Mandela spoke of the power in relationships with colleagues. “Whatever position I occupied,” he said, “it was the result of colleagues—of my comrades in the movement—who had decided in their wisdom to use me for the purpose of focusing the attention of the country and the international community on me.” Our strength as an organization is through collaborative service to the community. An area our strategic plan identified to strengthen was to promote opportunities in which we can build better connections with our co-workers. Forbes magazine noted that Fortune 500 companies have employees that take the time to learn about colleagues’ lives and interests. It may seem trivial, but sometimes we forget to smile throughout the work day, to recognize the face of a co-worker, or to say, simply, “Good Morning” to each other by name. In order to promote co-worker interactions across our organi- zation, we are using our internal email system to visually identify employees. This photo directory will be for internal use only, and cannot be accessed outside of SLOCOE. When an email is sent within SLOCOE, a small image of the employee taken from the badge photo will be visible to the SLOCOE employee. It is my hope that when we put a name with a face, we build community. Thank you for your service to our county and to SLOCOE. It is an honor to serve as your superintendent. - Jim Brescia S LOCOE staff made time before office hours August 25 to mingle and get acquainted with co-workers they don’t get to see face-to-face every day. Enjoying donuts, coffee and orange juice provided by Human Resources, which hosted the mingle for August, over 30 staff enjoyed a time of visiting with classroom and program staff at Oceano Education Center in the south, Morro Road Education Center in the north, and SLOCOE’s main office. Stay tuned for info on the date, locations, and host for September’s Mingle. Monthly Mingle Launched Mark Your Calendars Countywide Staff Development Day Plans are underway! Watch this space for more information on topics, loca- tions, and breakout sessions. Pictured Below Left: Valerie Kraskey, Tony Anastasia, Bill Barnhill, Cindy Mauch, Beth Gorrill, Linda Borza, Kathy Clifton, Betty Ellison, Marlene Zobian (SLOCOE Main Office); Below Right: Phil Trott, Patty Ouimette, and Mary Jarvis (Oceano Education Center).
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SLO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION sEPTEMBER
SLOCOE eNews
N elson Mandela spoke of the power in relationships with
colleagues. “Whatever position I occupied,” he said, “it was the result of colleagues—of my comrades in the movement—who had decided in their wisdom to use me for the purpose of focusing the attention of the country and the international community on me.”
Our strength as an organization is through collaborative service to the community. An area our strategic plan identified to strengthen was to promote opportunities in which we can build better connections with our co-workers. Forbes magazine noted that Fortune 500 companies have employees that take the time to learn about
colleagues’ lives and interests.
It may seem trivial, but sometimes we forget to smile throughout the work day, to recognize the face of a co-worker, or to say, simply, “Good Morning” to each other by name. In order to promote co-worker interactions across our organi-zation, we are using our internal email system to visually identify employees. This photo directory will be for internal use only, and cannot be accessed outside of SLOCOE. When an email is sent within SLOCOE, a small image of the employee taken from the badge photo will be visible to the SLOCOE employee. It is my hope that when we put a name with a face, we build community.
Thank you for your service to our county and to SLOCOE. It is an honor to serve as your superintendent.
- Jim Brescia
S LOCOE staff made time before office hours August 25 to mingle and get acquainted with co-workers they don’t get to see face-to-face every day.
Enjoying donuts, coffee and orange juice provided by Human Resources, which hosted the mingle for August, over 30 staff enjoyed a time of visiting with classroom and program staff at Oceano Education Center in the south, Morro Road Education Center in the north, and SLOCOE’s main office. Stay tuned for info on the date, locations, and host for September’s Mingle.
Monthly Mingle Launched Mark Your Calendars Countywide Staff Development Day
Plans are underway!
Watch this space for more information on topics, loca- tions, and breakout sessions.
Pictured Below Left: Valerie Kraskey, Tony Anastasia, Bill Barnhill, Cindy Mauch, Beth Gorrill, Linda Borza, Kathy Clifton, Betty Ellison, Marlene Zobian (SLOCOE Main Office); Below Right: Phil Trott, Patty Ouimette, and Mary Jarvis (Oceano Education Center).
Welcome to the SLOCOE Family! Kayla Brachear, Teacher, Alternative Education, SPS
Amber Deem, Security Assistant, Loma Vista CS, SPS
Brandi Lykes, Registered Nurse, SPS
Vineta Madrigal, Accounting Technician III,
Business Services
Molly Lawrence-Shattuck, Program Specialist, SPS
Alana Rodriguez, Teacher, Alternative Education, SPS
Michael Specchierla, Director, Career & Technology Education
Thank you for Your Service! Pamela Ewalt, Registered Nurse, SPS
Jessica Fetter, School Psychologist, SPS Shelley Miguel, Associate Teacher, Child Development Programs, ESS Victoria Sams, Instructional Assistant, SPS Hannah Whitehead, Instructional Assistant, Special Education, SPS
ESS = Educational Support Services SPS = Student Programs and Services
Meet Michael Gray, Assistant Principal
M ichael Gray is the new Assistant Principal at Loma Vista Community School. He comes to us from Paso Robles Joint Unified School District, where he taught since 1998.
Michael is a “local boy” who graduated from Morro Bay High School in 1986. He loves the beach and ocean, and nearly every
sport there is, as a participant and coach. He has coached numerous sports, including three CIF Champion-ship football teams, at Paso Robles High School. He has a masters degree in Educational Administration, and another degree in Coaching/Athletic Administration.
Michael has a daughter Makenna, who is starting her second year at Boise State University; and a son, Parker, beginning his first year at the
University of Arizona-Tucson. Michael and his fiance, Lora, plan to be married next July.
Meet Reanna Mazuka, Instructional Specialist-OI
R eanna is semi-new to SLOCOE, having worked previously at Grover Heights as a Behav-ioral Health Specialist, before programs were trans-ferred to Lucia Mar Unified School District.
As our new Instructional Specialist for the Orthoped- ically Impaired, Reanna is excited about working with five– to-thirteen-year-old children, whose vision, hearing, and mobility impairments will offer her new experiences and learning opportunities. Her job is to help these students get proper devices so they can be successful, and to help them achieve their Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals. As an itinerant employee, Reanna will cover an area from San Miguel in the north, to the Five Cities in the south. “I’m so excited to be traveling, and to work with these kids!” she says.
Rumor has it that Reanna is an excellent cook. She aspires to open her own vegan restaurant some day when she retires, she says.
H eather Reutzel, the new Payroll Specialist in Business Services, knows all about life’s big changes. She moved to Arroyo Grande after 17 years in Chico, where she attended college, got married, and became Operations Manager for a domestic violence assistance agency. She and her husband Dave have two daughters, Amy, six, and Renee, three. Heather was pleased to be able to bring Amy to her first day of school at Harloe Elementary. All went well, she says.
Heather loves the farmers’ markets in our county, and is getting ready to run her first race in October, as a part of the “Couch to 5K’ training program.
The Payroll department has welcomed Heather eagerly, and she says her favorite thing about joining SLOCOE is “working with so many amazing people.”
Meet Heather Reutzel, Payroll Specialist
Congratulations to Beth Gorrill and “Team CALPADS” who received recognition from the State of California for submitting timely and accurate student data. A commendation reads in part, “Your staff efforts are integral to keeping CALPADS up-to-date. . . . We thank you for your commitment to high-quality data. Please extend our congratulations to all those involved . . . including site and district administrators and staff. . . .” Super Awesome! (Photo: Dr. Brescia, Beth Gorrill, DJ Pittenger)
SLOCOE eNEWS 3
G uess what? Alicia Saylor has volunteered to coordinate some great “Connect” events for SLOCOE staff. Stay tuned for a “DAY AT THE BAY,” coming Saturday, October 17, at Port San Luis in
Avila. Alicia has in mind a day of water fun for staff , families, and even dogs. In the meantime, check out these fun events in September:
HUNGER WALK, Sat., Sept. 19, 1:00 pm, Morro Bay SLOCOE is forming a team. Registration is free online, and you will receive a shirt. Walkers gather at 962 Piney Way, Morro Bay for a walk to the Rock and back. Visit with friends while enjoying the fresh air! Each donation of $1 will purchase $10 worth of food for our county’s Food Coalition. Contact Susan Richardson.
FAMILY DAYS at GLOBAL FAMILY FARM, Sat., Sept. 26 Every 4th Saturday there is an event planned at this farm, everything from Mud Play Family Day (last July) to learning about Grains of the World, this month. Visit CityFarmSLO for a schedule of events or contact Teresa Lees. Global Family Farm is located on Calle Joaquin North, which runs parallel to the 101.
~ Photo Scrapbook ~ AUGUST MINGLE - MORE PHOTOS Below Left (Oceano Education Center): Pam Ables & Patty Ouimette; Below Right (Oceano Education Center): Angie Simmons, Phil Trott, Patty Ouimette, Ron Linscott; Bottom Left: Thomas Alva-rez, Stephanie Northcote ; Bottom Right (Morro Road Education Center): Lori Pena, Dr. Brescia, Rebecca Lorenzi; Sheldon Smith, Alana Rodriguez, Karen Woodruff.
~ Photo Scrapbook ~ BACK TO SCHOOL BREAKFAST (August 18) Below Left: Staff receive “welcome back” folders containing contact information. Below Right: Valerie Kraskey presents Sharon Gallagher with her 25-year service pin and certificate, along with a hug. Bottom: Dr. Brescia, with the help of an American Sign Language interpreter, introduced members of his Cabinet to staff gathered at the outdoor amphitheater at Rancho El Chorro.
