2020 - 2021 Certificated and Classified Employee of the Year

34 Individuals Recognized

Each year the San Benito County Office Board of Education and San Benito County Superintendent of Schools recognizes classified and certificated staff that are nominated by each district for the annual San Benito County Classified and Certificated Employees of the Year celebration. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Benito County Office of Education (SBCOE) hosted a virtual celebration this year. Please visit our website at www.sbcoe.org to view the recorded event. Each employee received a plaque from SBCOE, a certificate of recognition from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors and the City of Hollister, and a special California State Legislature Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Robert Rivas and Senator Anna Caballero.  We are grateful for the dedication, hard work and passion that each employee exhibits every day. We thank you for making a difference for our students across San Benito County.

Certificated Employees of the Year were as follows:

Aromas- San Juan School District:

Michelle Beske, Anzar High School

Grace Rosa, Aromas School

Kathleen Hoel, San Juan School

Cienega School District:

Sarah Fruit, Cienega 

Hollister School District:

Laurie Forrest, Accelerated Achievement Academy

Marsha Cuellar, Calaveras

Evelyn Sachau, Cerra Vista

Stephanie Sobeslavsky, Gabilan Hills

Laurie Marcus, Hollister Dual Language Academy

Jamie Fowles, Ladd Lane

Nicole Felkins, Marguerite Maze 

Marcela Serrano Rancho San Justo

Julia Blankenship, R.O. Hardin

Melissa Morrison, Sunnyslope

North County School District:

Kelly Oldakowski, Spring Grove

San Benito High School District:

Brian DeCarli

San Benito County Office of Education:

Megan Ward

Classified Employees of the Year were as follows:

Aromas- San Juan School District:

Thalia Bozarth, Aromas-San Juan

Elva Aguirre, Aromas School

Felipe Davila, Sr., Anzar High School

Christina Juarez, San Juan School

Cienega School District:

Susan Jones

Hollister School District:

Jackie Muñoz, Accelerated Achievement Academy /Calaveras

Felipe Mercado, Cerra Vista

Lisa Ranzoni, Hollister Dual Language Academy

Cindy Brown, Gabilan Hills

Maria Orozco, Ladd Lane

Darlene Apodaca, Marguerite Maze

Maria Molinar, Rancho San Justo

Barbara Silva, R.O. Hardin

Christy Gorham, Sunnyslope

North County School District:

Alma Nandino, Spring Grove

San Benito High School District: 

Jim Lewis

San Benito County Office of Education:

Orelia Gonzalez

The San Benito County Office of Education is proud to share our May Newsletter with you. Each month, we update you on programs, events and news in the county office and the districts we serve in San Benito County. In addition, we invite you to stay connected through our various social media platforms. We look forward to continuing to work with you and our students across San Benito County as we Engage, Encourage, Empower...Educate!

On March 18, 2021, students from around the county participated in the San Benito County Office of Education's STEAM EXPO! Students of all grade levels entered science projects, STEAM projects, artwork and performances focusing on this year’s theme, "Ignite Your Imagination! Exploring Curiosity and Creativity Through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math." At 5pm, the community came together virtually to watch presentations from the San Benito High School Robotics Team, hear Kylie Luna read her original poem and visit the STAEM Expo webpage. The evening ended with awards presented to Science Fair Project winners in grades 4-8 (listed below). Thank you to everyone who participated and to the San Benito Arts Council for their help organizing and promoting the expo. You can view the project here.     

Grades 4-5

Marcos Alvarez           San Juan Elementary

Jesus Garcia                San Juan Elementary

Danica Mcnett            AAA

Morgan Ruiz                San Juan Elementary

Talon West                 AAA

Malaina Oliver            San Juan Elementary

Grades 6-8

Marabella Barron       San Juan Elementary

Michael Briano            San Juan Elementary

Skylar Du Perez           San Juan Elementary

Cesar Lopez                San Juan Elementary

Ian Miller                    Willow Grove Elementary

Hailey Orozco             Willow Grove Elementary

Emiliano Ramirez       San Juan Elementary

Hector Rodriguez       San Juan Elementary

Levi Tran                     San Juan Elementary

Emily Welch                San Juan Elementary

The San Benito County Office of Education is proud to share our April Newsletter with you. Each month, we update you on programs, events and news in the county office and the districts we serve in San Benito County. In addition, we invite you to stay connected through our various social media platforms. We look forward to continuing to work with you and our students across San Benito County as we Engage, Encourage, Empower...Educate!

On February 25, 2021, students around San Benito County showcased their artistic talents at the SBC Virtual Arts Showcase. Sponsored by SBCOE and SBC Arts Council, the event consisted of a one hour presentation of student performances that included dances, songs, poetry and lessons on painting and drawing. The audience was then able to tour visual arts created by students from many San Benito County schools. Click here to view all the student artwork and performances or see the recording of the evening..

The San Benito County Office of Education is proud to share our March Newsletter with you. Each month, we update you on programs, events and news in the county office and the districts we serve in San Benito County. In addition, we invite you to stay connected through our various social media platforms. We look forward to continuing to work with you and our students across San Benito County as we Engage,  Encourage, Empower...Educate! 

The San Benito County Office of Education is proud to share our February Newsletter with you. Each month, we update you on programs, events and news in the county office and the districts we serve in San Benito County. In addition, we invite you to stay connected through our various social media platforms. We look forward to continuing to work with you and our students across San Benito County as we Engage, Encourage, Empower...Educate!

San Benito County Office of Education Announces “FALL IN LOVE WITH READING” Results

San Benito County Office of Education County Superintendent Krystal Lomanto is excited to announce the results of our “FALL IN LOVE WITH READING” county Challenge. During the challenge, which ran from September 22, 2020 – December 21, 2020, students across the county more than met the 100 million word challenge by reading an amazing 126,431,714 words! Superintendent Lomanto is also excited to announce that 251 students met or exceeded the 100,000 word challenge individually.

The top reader in the county was Jeremy Mendez, a third grade student who attends Sunnyslope Elementary School. Jeremy read a total of 874,076 words!  The school with the most words read in the county was Hollister Dual Language Academy, led by Principal Monique Ruiz. Students at Hollister Dual Language Academy read an incredible 27,653,205 words. Click Here to see the list of students who read 100,000 words or more and the school they attend, as well as the top reader in each school and the top classroom in each school.  Congratulations to everyone who participated and best of luck to students with the upcoming Winter Reading Challenge which runs through March 21, 2021.

Footsteps2Brilliance offers books, games and activities in English and Spanish for children from birth to 3^rd grade. Features include pre-reading, learn-to-read and general reading programs as well as newly added science activities.  The program can be downloaded on any electronic device and, once downloaded, no internet connection is needed.  For information about how you can register your child for FREE, please visit www.myf2b.com/register/SanBenitoCOE.

The San Benito County Office of Education is proud to share our January Newsletter with you. Each month, we update you on programs, events and news in the county office and the districts we serve in San Benito County. In addition, we invite you to stay connected through our various social media platforms. We look forward to continuing to work with you and our students across San Benito County as we Engage, Encourage, Empower...Educate!

The San Benito County Office of Education is proud to share our December Newsletter with you. Each month, we update you on programs, events and news in the county office and the districts we serve in San Benito County. In addition, we invite you to stay connected through our various social media platforms. We look forward to continuing to work with you and our students across San Benito County as we Engage, Encourage, Empower...Educate!