Recognition Events

Congratulations to the 2023 Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year

• High School Category -Michael Schilperoort, Thomas Downey, Modesto City Schools
• 7-8th Grade Category - Terry Daniels, Waterford Junior High, Waterford Unified School District
• 4-6th Grade Category - Sarah Flora, Walnut Elementary Education Center, Turlock Unified School District
• TK-3rd Grade Category - Jennifer Benitez, Mary Ann Sanders Elementary, Sylvan Union School District

Click on the videos below to learn more about the 12 teacher finalists.

The Modesto Rotary Club and the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) announced the selection of four local educators as 2023 Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year on May 2 at the DoubleTree Hotel. In addition, a Jane Johnston Civility Award was presented to one of the 12 finalists for exemplifying the principles of civility. "SCOE received 62 nominations from public and private school principals throughout the county," said Jason Maggard, SCOE Chief of Staff. "A selection committee, composed of local Rotarians and educators, narrowed the nominations through a paper screening process and then visited the classrooms of 24 semi-finalists before narrowing it down to the 12 finalists. We are thrilled that we finally recognized our Teacher of the Year Finalists."
The 2022-23 Teachers of the Year are Jennifer Benitez from Mary Ann Sander Elementary School in the Sylvan Union School District – TK-3^rd division; Sarah Flora from Walnut Elementary Education Center in the Turlock Unified School District – 4-6^th division; Terry Daniels from Waterford Junior High School in the Waterford Unified School District – junior high division; and Michael Schilperoort from Downey High School in the Modesto City Schools District – high school division.
The four selected as Teachers of the Year each received a $1,000 cash award from the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation.
The Jane Johnston Civility Award was presented to Bret Shaeffer from Hughes Elementary School in the Empire Union School District. Shaeffer received a $1,000 cash award from the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County for exemplifying one of the 12 traits of civility. The Civility Award is in honor of Jane Johnston, former SCOE Assistant Superintendent and Education Foundation member.
Sponsors of the Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year program include the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation, Stanislaus County Office of Education, and Mocse Credit Union, with additional awards provided by the Association of Stanislaus County School Boards.

Employees Making a Difference

Called “Employees Making a Difference,” school districts throughout the county select their own honorees and forward nominations to SCOE.  

District honorees will be celebrated during a county-level recognition where they will receive gift baskets provided by generous key corporate sponsors AALRR Law Firm, Association of Stanislaus County School Boards, and Mocse Credit Union. One finalist in each work category will be eligible to participate in the statewide recognition program, "Classified School Employees of the Year", sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE). The work categories are:

Clerical & Administrative Services	Custodial & Maintenance Services	Food & Nutrition Services
Health & Student Services	Paraprofessional Services	Security Services
Skilled Trades Services	Technical Services	Transportation Services

In addition, the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County will present the Jane Johnston Civility Award to one of the district nominees who best exemplifies the principles of civility.  The award is named in honor of former SCOE Assistant Superintendent Jane Johnston, who helped launch the county-wide Choose Civility Initiative in 2010 and passed away unexpectedly in April 2012. Johnston advocated for and co-chaired the Employees Making a Difference Program (2008–2012) and was active with the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County. 

Each district is eligible to send in a certain number of nominees based on district ADA.

• 0-4999 students = 1 nominee
• 5,000-9,999 students = 2 nominees
• 10,000- 20,000 students = 3 nominees
• 20,000+ students = 4 nominees 

• Jane Johnston Civility Award Selection Criteria
• Sample Nomination Letter
• 2024 Employees Making a Difference Nomination Form

Contact:

Stephen Ortiz: Phone (209) 238-1706 Email: stortiz@stancoe.org

Every Student Succeeding

Since 2005, the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and the local Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) have coordinated this program. One student is selected to represent Stanislaus County at the regional level and receives a scholarship from ACSA. That student will then be considered among other ACSA region representatives to advance to the state-level awards recognition. 

SCOE and ACSA believe every student deserves equal opportunities to succeed. Every school day throughout California, dedicated educators, and courageous students overcome tremendous obstacles to reach their academic excellence goals. Their success is our success; their powerful stories are our inspiration.

Many thanks to our generous Key Corporate Event Sponsors: Mocse Credit Union and E. & J. Gallo Winery, and the Association of Stanislaus County School Boards. 

NOMINATION PROCESS

We are currently accepting nominations for this year's Every Student Succeeding Awards. The fillable nomination form must be submitted to designated school district staff for approval. 

Districts will select their own honorees based on the following ADA formula:

0 - 4,999 students = 1 nominee

5,000 - 9,999 students = 2 nominees

10,000 - 20,000 students = 3 nominees

20,000+ students = 4 nominees

 

SCOE student online nominations are due to SCOE Administration with the student's current school photo by Thursday, January 4, 2024. 

District-approved online nominations are due to SCOE Administration with the student's current school photo by Thursday, January 11, 2024.

• ACSA Nomination Award Tips
• Every Student Succeeding Scoring Rubric
• 2024 Every Student Succeeding Nomination Form

Designated district office staff will receive a unique link from the County office for submitting applications. 

Contact:

Stephen Ortiz: Phone (209) 238-1706 Email: stortiz@stancoe.org

This program celebrates the exceptional work of positive role models who:

• Inspire all students to reach their highest academic potential and work to maximize their social and emotional development;

• Consistently support high expectations for learning and responsible behavior at school and within the community;

• Approach teaching with creativity, enthusiasm, and a genuine appreciation for the individual differences among all students; and,

• Cultivate a life-long interest in learning among all students.

The program is implemented with the involvement of local public and private schools within Stanislaus County. The Modesto Rotary Club and the Stanislaus County Office of Education administer it.

Principals are encouraged to nominate one teacher at their school who fits the eligibility criteria below to be considered for the County Teacher of the Year Awards. Each school may only have one nominee per year. Teachers previously nominated but not selected as the Teacher of the Year may be nominated again. Nominees must:

• Be teachers of grades TK-12 in public or private schools located within Stanislaus County;

• Be the teacher of record for designated students and not fully released from the classroom;

• Be fully credentialed through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing;

• Have taught a minimum of 8 years (perhaps across districts), inclusive of the year of nomination;

• If County Teacher of the Year is chosen, be willing to serve on the screening team and attend the luncheon for the following year. Substitutes will be paid at the district's expense. SCOE Administration will pay for luncheon ticket; and,

• Be willing to participate at the state and national levels of competition if selected.

The application and narratives must be completed online at www.stancoe.org/go/TOY. The teacher or principal will start the process by clicking the New Teacher Application button and completing the application page. The teacher and principal can edit the application page but only view the other's narrative. The teacher's submission will not exceed 1000 words, and the principal's submission will not exceed 500 words. The superintendent and designee(s) can view the submissions. The superintendent and designee(s) will also receive an email notifying them that a district teacher has begun the process. All documents must be completed and approved by the superintendent or designee on January 19, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. Please note: no paper, faxed, or emailed versions will be accepted.

• The principal and teacher must approve videotaping in the teacher's classroom.

• In addition to allowing time for videotaping in the school and classroom, the principal must be prepared to provide release time for the honoree to attend the Modesto Rotary luncheon on May 7, 2024.

A selection committee (composed of Educators, Rotarians, and previous Teacher of the Year winners) reviews applications and visits classrooms. It ultimately selects three finalists for each grade level group:  TK-3, 4-6, junior high, and high school. The committee does not have a single type of teacher in mind; selected teachers may have very different teaching styles and methods. But committee members will search for those teachers who best engage their students and whose students are learning from the lesson observed.

STEP 1:  Electronic applications are due January 19, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. The Selection Committee will review all applications and select six teachers to visit in each category:  TK-3,   4-6, 7-8, and 9-12. (The principal's narrative will count for 1/3 of the total score, and the teacher's narrative will count for 2/3 of the total score.)

STEP 2:  Twenty-four teachers will be observed from February 26 to March 8. Committee members will visit the site, review the applications again and select three finalists from each category. One teacher in each class will receive the County Teacher from those three.

Year Award, but this will not be announced until the luncheon.

STEP 3:  The twelve selected teachers will be videotaped in their classrooms during the last two weeks of March. A special video will be created and presented during the Modesto Rotary Club luncheon on May _, 2024.

STEP 4:  During the May 2^nd luncheon, eight teachers will receive a Teacher of the Year Finalist Award, and the four winners will receive their County Teacher of the Year award and a $1,000 check. Each Teacher of the Year finalist and a guest, the principal, and the superintendent will receive complimentary tickets to the luncheon from the Modesto Rotary Club. Additional tickets may be purchased based on availability. Payments for extra tickets must be paid by the deadline of April 15, 2024.

STEP 5: In June, the four winners will be interviewed. Two teachers will be selected to represent Stanislaus County in the California Teacher of the Year program per state guidelines. These teachers will complete the state application by July 2024. The state competition's representatives are announced each year in September.

All twelve finalists will have the opportunity to be considered for the Jane Johnston Civility Award presented by the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County. The honoree will be announced at the luncheon and receive an award and a $1000 check. Information will be sent to the nominators once the finalists have been reported.

The four honorees in each category (TK-3, 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12) will each receive an award and a $1,000 check. The Jane Johnston Civility awardee will receive an award and a $1000 check.

All wishing to attend (including finalists, principals, and superintendents) the 2024 County Teacher of the Year Luncheon must RSVP by April 1, 2024, by calling (209) 238-1706 or stortiz@stancoe.org.  Extra tickets are limited and are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Payments for additional tickets must be received by the April 15, 2024 deadline.