Colusa County Office of Education - Employees of the Year

2026 Employees of the Year

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Superintendent’s Award

Toni Kiely

Paraeducator, Special Education

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Excellence in Management

Jennifer Farman

Program Specialist, Special Education

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Excellence in Management

Chandra Kirby

Program Specialist, Special Education

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Excellence in Management

Jennifer Abel

Food Services Supervisor

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Teacher of the Year

Sara Dunn

Adult Transition Program Teacher, Coastal Buttes Academy

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Teacher of the Year

Airaly Rolon

Special Education Teacher, Arbuckle Elementary School

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Teacher of the Year

Viridiana Pimentel Ramirez

Preschool Teacher, Williams Preschool Learning Center

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Leadership Award

Lydia Navarro

Famiy Engagement Coordinator, Children’s Services

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Leadership Award

Alissa Maas

Director of Communications & Public Relations

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Leadership Award

Gemma Velazquez

Mental Health Coordinator, Special Education

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Leadership Award

Julia Hernandez

Health Specialist, Children’s Services

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Leadership Award

Rina Banuelos

Mental Health Coordinator, Special Education

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Leadership Award

Elizabeth Herzog

Farm to School Coordinator, Educational Services

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Certificated Employee of the Year

Johnny Magann

School Psychologist, Special Education Department

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Certificated Employee of the Year

Luis F. Orozco

Social Worker, Educational Services

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Certificated Employee of the Year

Erin Kalfsbeek

Special Education Teacher, Grand Island Elementary School

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Classified Employee of the Year

Rachel Webb

Lead Human Resources Specialist II

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Classified Employee of the Year

Rebecca Barrett

Paraeducator, Special Education

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Classified Employee of the Year

Rosa Talamantes

Fiscal Specialist, Business Services

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Classified Employee of the Year

Karen Pantoja Reyes

Resource & Referral Assistant, Children’s Services

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Classified Employee of the Year

Vicky O’Quelly

Paraeducator, Special Education

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Support Employee of the Year

Deisy Paniagua

Literacy Specialist I, “And Literacy For All”

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Support Employee of the Year

Kelley Hickel

Student Data Technician, Special Education

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Support Employee of the Year

Noemi Andrade

Administrative Assistant, Special Education

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Rookie of the Year

Erin Pettigrew

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Teacher, Special Education

Not pictured:

Joscelyne Gonzalez Valdes, Rookie of the Year
Receptionist, Human Resources & Children’s Services

Previous Years

Superintendent’s Award
John Ithurburn

Leadership Award
Araceli Castro
Michelle Bingham
Jennifer Ramirez Perez

Rookie of the Year
Edgar Sanchez
Lupe Villanueva
Vanessa Alcaraz Jimenez

Excellence in Management
Jamie Lay
Kevin Douglas

Support Employee of the Year
Kyle Gehrts
Luis Orozco
Isabel Casarez Luna
Lupe Espindola

Teacher of the Year
Nic Monroe
JB Brayfindley
Itsageri Ruiz
Genia Colsa-Friel
Merry Hofhenke

Classified Employee of the Year
Fany Sandoval
Cindy Garcia
Beatriz Adame
Alisse Ramirez
Christina Estrada
Tracy Jones
Betsy Weber
Sharon McElveny

Certificated Employee of the Year
Regan Talerico
Superintendent’s Award
Alissa Maas

Leadership Award
Veronica Sandoval
Jennifer Wayman
Tiffani Fusaro

Rookie of the Year
Scott Waters
Julissa Velasquez
Sandra Brooks
Kaja Phillips

Excellence in Management
Stefani Silvas Santana
Sabrina Myers
John Ithurburn
Angelina Guizar

Support Employee of the Year
Julie Rivera
Yesenia Chavez
Argelia Muniz

Teacher of the Year
Bob Kirkman
Lisa Evans
Kristen Carmona

Classified Employee of the Year
Jennifer Ramirez Perez
Lucy Parra
Crystal Frazier
Keri Cunha

Certificated Employee of the Year
Carla Pyle
Cindy Cerney
Virginia Whitaker
Superintendent’s Award
Aaron Heinz

Leadership Award
Rachel Webb
Tina Maxwell

Rookie of the Year
Gemma Velazquez

Excellence in Management
Angela Fulcher
Alex Evans
Jared Robinett

Support Employee of the Year
Elizabeth Segura
Heather Covarrubias

Teacher of the Year
Parveen Sharma
Doug Horton
Emily Abken
Zachary Troughton

Classified Employee of the Year
Dottie Rittmann
Lisa Knight

Certificated Employee of the Year
Sean Jackson
Kim Tackett