Employee of the Month
NOMINATION PROCESS
NOMINATION PROCESS
NOMINATION PROCESS
Any YCOE employee may be nominated as Employee of the Month for a worthy contribution to the organization. Nomination and selection criteria are related to the topics for the month below and significant contributions to the YCOE organization, its staff, students, or the educational community. Employees nominated under this program shall be reviewed for selection by a committee within YCOE, on a monthly basis.
The award recipient shall be announced and recognized at the next Board of Education meeting, with one month's parking in the designated EOM parking spot (if applicable), a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their contribution, and a gift card.
Employees not selected in any particular month may be selected and receive this award in a subsequent month, within the fiscal year of nomination, if the nomination falls into that month's topic.
2026-27 Topics for Nomination:
- September: One YCOE: Consistently recognizing our inter-dependence, and leveraging the diversity of strengths, expertise, and insights of our team.
- October: Vision: Be a model of excellence in educational service, innovation, and impact.
- November: Mission: Provide inspiration, leadership, support, and advocacy that ensures equity and access to high-quality education for all students.
- December: Core Values: Stay Student-Centered, Communicate Effectively, Value Employees and Partners.
- January: Exemplary Service to Internal and External Partners by providing high-quality, personalized support within the county and community of Yolo.
- February: Strategic Plan Goal 1: Created or participated in a countywide transitional kindergarten to grade 16 initiative that will cohesively, effectively, and sustainably improve student outcomes in Yolo County.
- March: Strategic Plan Goal 2: Innovate, collaborate, or participate within YCOE or with school districts to close access and opportunity gaps to support the success of students.
- April: Strategic Plan Goal 3: Engage YCOE students in model education programs in order to ensure they are college and career ready.
- May: Strategic Plan Goal 4: Increase and sustain innovative and effective practices in administrative services (operations, business, and technology) while delivering high-quality and responsive services.
2026 EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
- January 2026: Yara Cortes, Senior Business Services Technician, Internal Fiscal Services
- March 2026: Jucali Casas, Program Specialist, Foster/Homeless/TUPE Education Services
- April 2026: Miriam Banuelos, Preschool Teacher, Prairie Center, Early Childhood Education
- May 2026: Ruben Estrada, Computer Systems Specialist, Information Technology Services
- September 2026: Tommi Varsell, Paraeducator, Greengate School
OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Tommi Varsell, Paraeducator, Greengate School
Topic: One YCOE: Consistently recognizing our inter-dependence, and leveraging the diversity of strengths, expertise, and insights of our team.
We are proud to recognize Tommi as YCOE’s employee of the month! Although Tommi serves as a 1:1 paraeducator, he consistently goes above and beyond to support all students and staff. Tommi collaborates with his classroom teacher to strategize how we can improve classroom support strategies. For example, he will inform the team when he notices potential antecedents to student behaviors that have helped us decrease serious self-injurious behaviors in the elementary autism classroom.
Tommi helps bring out the strengths in everyone around him while having a positive impact on staff by connecting with his coworkers to delegate how their strengths could best be used, including his own. During behavior crises, Tommi is the one to direct students and staff to evacuate while the teacher and behavior team de-escalate the situation. He also maintains the safety of all staff and students.
Tommi brings a cheerful, positive spirit to Greengate and is always friendly and willing to help. His quiet, thoughtful approach and effective work reflect his commitment to all students. We are very fortunate to have him on our team.
Please join us in celebrating and recognizing Ruben for his contributions to excellence at our next Yolo County Board of Education meeting.
ARchive of past employee of the month recipients
ARchive of past employee of the month recipients
ARchive of past employee of the month recipients
2025 EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
- January 2025: Nedi Diaz, Early Learning Coach, Early Childhood Education
- February 2025: Cathie Irwin, Program Coordinator, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Equity & Support Services
- March 2025: Anabel Figueroa, HR Credential Technician, Human Resources Department
- April 2025: Yolo County Career Program (Gerardo Guerrero, Bruce Lewis, Tomas Montoya, Gabriela Nunez, Virginia Shedd, and Roni Morales) at Cesar Chavez Community School
- May 2025: Corwin Lowe, Manager, Internal Fiscal Services
- August 2025: Andrea Barajas, Administrative Assistant, SELPA
- September 2025: Kim Magallanes, Substitute, External Business Services
- October 2025: Julia Brown, Special Education Teacher, Whitehead Elementary (Horizon Program)
- November 2025: An Ta, Program Administrator III, Transition Age Youth & Adult Education, College & Career Readiness
2024 EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
- January 2024: Heidi Anderson, Teacher, Adult Living Skills, Special Education
- February 2024: Alyssa Alcazar, Paraeducator, Whitehead Elementary, Special Education
- April 2024: Alejandra Lopez, Program Specialist I, Cesar Chavez Community School
- May 2024: Rosie Vargas, Administrative Secretary, Special Education
- June 2024: Kevin Tevis, Senior Computer Systems Specialist, Information and Technology Services
- August 2024: Austin Adame, Senior Computer Systems Specialist, Information and Technology Services
- September 2024: Jeremy Jackson, Paraeducator, Adult Living Skills, Special Education
- October 2024: Rocio Jacobo Perales, Program Resource Specialist, Early Childhood Education
- November 2024: Daniel Rubio, Senior Payroll/Benefits Technician, Human Resources
- December 2024: Dr. Heather Schlaman, Literacy Coordinator, Equity and Support Services
2023 EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
- March 2023: Alternative Education Paraeducators (Victoria Curry, Joel Garcia, Davina Huerta, Kristen Storz, Reggie Washington)
- April 2023: Cat Vibert, Administrative Assistant, Educational Services
- May 2023: Christie Petrali, Senior Payroll/Benefits Technician, Human Resources
- August 2023: Abigail Briceno, Administrative Secretary, Information and Technology Services
- September 2023: Nicole Castrejon, Family Support Services Manager, Early Childhood Education
- October 2023: YCOE Student Intern Partnership (Eric Banuelos, Austin Creamer, Ken Creamer, Matt Juchniewicz, Bruce Lewis, Ray Lippincott, Alejandra Lopez, Tomas Marquez, Ben Nan, Edwin Ortega Beltran, Hector Perez, Karen Swan, An Ta, and Darin Tidball)
- November 2023: Tommy Hobbs, Teacher, Dan Jacobs School
2022 EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
- January 2022: Bridget Vaughan, Sr. Business Services Technician, External Business Services
- February 2022: Bianca Solorio, Foster Youth & Homeless Services Outreach Specialist, Student Services
- March 2022: Gerry Scholl, Substitute Teacher/Substitute Paraeducator
- May 2022: Human Resource COVID-19 staff (Anabel Figueroa, Bebe Reveles, Iris Tapia-Ramirez, Patti Robles)
- July 2022: Rosie Vargas, Administrative Secretary, Special Education
- August 2022: Darin Tidball, Senior Maintenance Technician, and Austin Creamer, Maintenance Technician, Support Operations Services
- September 2022: Claudia Grimaldi, Accountant, Internal Fiscal Services
- October 2022: Yvette Seibert, Executive Assistant, Superintendent's Office
- November 2022: Lisa Munoz-Vasquez, Youth Advocate, Alternative Education
2021 EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
- April 2021: Chris Stringer, Network Engineer, Information and Technology Services
- May 2021: Head Start Family Support Services staff (Rose Castaneda, Ana Ceballos, Teresa Jauregui, Cierra Joseph, Andrew Martinez, Julisa Melgoza, and Amelia Rodriguez Abonce)
- October 2021: Heather Williams, Sarah Jull, Jonathon Monin, Roni Morales, Caitlyn Tsutsui, Greengate School
- November 2021: Andrea Barajas, Administrative Secretary, Teaching & Learning
- December 2021: Katya Griffin and Ana Renteria, Greengate School
