The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) has announced this year’s San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year finalists and the School Counselor of the Year winner. Among the nominees is an Escalon Unified School District teacher, Tulia Cobián of Collegeville Elementary School.
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.
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 is Erica Contreras-Suarez, Live Oak and Needham elementary schools, Lodi Unified School District.
San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year Finalists include:
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.
The awards dinner is scheduled for Thursday, June 8 at 6 p.m., at the San Joaquin County Office of Education, Wentworth Education Center, Burwood Auditorium, 2707 Transworld Drive, Stockton.
The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) provides educational leadership, resources, and services to support schools throughout the county. For more information, visit www.sjcoe.org.
