SLO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION September 2016 SLOCOE eNews A s a new school year opens, I am reminded daily of the many talented, dedicated and service- oriented colleagues I have the honor of collaborating with here at the County Office of Education. Collab- oration is not about liking everyone you work with or being best of friends. When we are able to put our bag- gage aside, bring the best to the table, and focus on our common goal, we truly experience collaboration. If an organization is accepting of collaboration we do not give up individuality. Quite the opposite; we realize our full potential. 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. I invite you to continue bringing your ideas, your passion, your mind, heart, and soul to your practice and to our SLOCOE culture. Recent research conducted by Cornerstone On Demand indicated that 38 percent of employees feel there is not enough collaboration in the workplace. It is my hope that as we continue to work together, address our communication challenges and build community, we collaborate more effectively. Thank you for your service to our county and to SLOCOE. It is an honor to serve as your superintendent. Welcome to the new school year. Jim Brescia We’re rolling out the red carpet . . . so save the date! Teacher of the Year Dinner Teacher of the Year Dinner Teacher of the Year Dinner September 26, 2016 5:00-9:00 pm Culinary Arts Academy 1900 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles Check out other events on the calendar! I invite you to continue bringing your I invite you to continue bringing your ideas, your passion, your mind, ideas, your passion, your mind, heart and soul to your practice and to heart and soul to your practice and to our SLOCOE culture. our SLOCOE culture. Calendar of Events
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SLO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION September 2016
SLOCOE eNews
A s a new school year opens, I am reminded
daily of the many talented, dedicated and service-oriented colleagues I have the honor of collaborating with here at the County Office of Education. Collab-oration is not about liking everyone you work with or being best of friends. When we are able to put our bag-gage aside, bring the best to the table, and focus on our
common goal, we truly experience collaboration. If an organization is accepting of collaboration we do not give up individuality. Quite the opposite; we realize our full potential. 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. I invite you to continue bringing
your ideas, your passion, your mind, heart, and soul to your practice and to our SLOCOE culture. Recent research conducted by Cornerstone On Demand indicated that 38 percent of employees feel there is not enough collaboration in the workplace. It is my hope that as we continue to work together, address our communication challenges and build
community, we collaborate more effectively. Thank you for your service to our county and to SLOCOE. It is an honor to serve as your superintendent. Welcome to the new school year.
Jim Brescia
We’re rolling out the red carpet . . .
so save the date!
Teacher of the Year DinnerTeacher of the Year DinnerTeacher of the Year Dinner
September 26, 2016
5:00-9:00 pm
Culinary Arts Academy 1900 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles
Check out other events on the calendar!
I invite you to continue bringing your I invite you to continue bringing your
ideas, your passion, your mind, ideas, your passion, your mind,
heart and soul to your practice and to heart and soul to your practice and to
W hat’s the difference between a career and a vocation? If you’re unsure, spend a few minutes
getting to know Karen, who wears her love for teaching and coaching like she does the smile on her face, and the athletic bounce in her step. Karen remembers forcing her little brothers to play as her students when she was young, but it took her dad to see her abilities and nudge her in the direction of Cal Poly for a degree and teacher training. Since then she has taught in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Blythe, Cayucos, and Shandon; and served as Assistant Principal at Atascadero High School. She has taught PE and Health, coached basketball and cheer-leading, and now pours her skills into helping students who need alternative approaches to education. “I like working with kids that drive other people crazy,” she says with a smile.” The first day of school at each of SLOCOE’s three com-munity schools was exciting. Karen helped staff greet the students, who arrived wearing their new clothes and shoes, and settled in for breakfast and community-building experiences together. Alternative Education staff work together like a “well-oiled machine,” she explains, to provide each student the extra contact needed for success.
Welcome, Karen. We wish you a great year!
Welcome to the SLOCOE Family Alyssa Agin, Teacher, Career & Technical Education, SPS Krista Collins, Teacher, Visually Impaired, SPS Caitlin Dimmitt, Counseling Support Specialist, Grizzly Roxanne Garispe, Credentialed Nurse, SPS Greg Hazelhofer, Resource Specialist, SPS Catherine Oden, Payroll Retirement Specialist, Business Svs. Mercedes Parker, Job Placement Specialist, SELPA
Thank You for Your Service Erin Miller, Administrative Assistant I, MOT Guadalupe Lazo, State Preschool Teacher, ESS
ESS—Educational Support Services; HR—Human Resources; MOT—Maintenance, Operations, & Transportation; SELPA—Special Education Local Plan Area; SPS—Student Programs & Services
Meet Michelle Mayabb, Fiscal Specialist I,
Business Services
P robably the most surprising thing one might learn about Michelle is that she is a grandmother of five!
In fact, much of this youthful-looking grandmother’s time away from work is focused on her family, attending football games or other events, from basketball to dance. With three grandsons and two granddaughters, ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old, one can imagine most weekends are full of activity. Michelle grew up in Exeter, in the San Joaquin Valley near the foothills of the Sierra
Nevada Mountain Range. She graduated from Exeter High School, and is very familiar with small-town life. Indeed, before moving to the Central Coast, Michelle worked for ten years as a Business Manager for Sunnyside Union Elementary School District (ADA 350), where she managed “everything from budgets to band-aids.” The small district staff were very much involved in the fabric of the community, organizing their own booth at town carnivals, in order to help raise funds for students. Sunnyside very much misses Michelle, but she is happy to be here. While the focus of a county office is a bit different than that of a small school district, Michelle says she has found living closer to her parents, daughter and grandchildren, and the transition to SLOCOE to be very congenial. Welcome, Michelle!
~ TRANS IT IONS ~
Photo by Jennie Curto
CAPTION CONTEST WINNERS
Can’t a bird catch a break? (Jennie Curto)
Gobble,
gobble! I’d like to enroll my chicks in
preschool!
(Kathleen Peterson)
No fowl play,
we’re just visiting!
(Misti Freeman)
SLOCOE eNEWS 3
W ho are you connecting with? Who are you offering lollipops to this year?” That was the question our super-intendent posed to all of us as he welcomed staff back to a brand new school year, August 17, at Rancho El
Chorro. In his remarks to staff, Dr. Brescia reminded all that “lollipop moments” are those seemingly small gestures of friendship we make to someone we may not know well, or are just meeting for the first time, gestures that have potential to change the other person’s outlook or entire life. Staff gathered for breakfast, while Cuesta’s Cool Notes provided live music, then walked to the outdoor amphitheater for employee service year recognition and awards.
“What Are Your Lollipop Moments?”
Pictured Clockwise from Top Left: Red-Tail Café provided breakfast; Phil Trott, Bev Behrmann, Steve DeWeese, Sheldon Smith, Sheila McGuire, Sharon O’Gara, Jill Heuer, Thomas Alvarez with service year awards; Dr . Brescia congratulates Board Trustee Paul Madonna for 30 years of service; Valerie Kraskey also received an award for 30 years of service with Sheldon Smith, Paul Madonna, DJ Pittenger, and Ashley Lightfoot smiling and applauding; SLOCOE’s Teacher of the Year Julie McAdon smiles with her award; Classified Employee of the Year Darlene Mims with her award. For more photos: BackToSchool
