Contra Costa County Office of Education

Classified School Employee of the Year Program

2025-2026 district NOMINATION PERIOD

District nominations for the 2025-2026 County Classified School Employee of the Year will be accepted from December 1, 2025 through 5:00pm on February 27, 2026. Please contact Morgan Broshar, Executive Assistant, at mbroshar@cccoe.k12.ca.us if you are a district coordinator for the CSEY program, for more information on nominations.

district PROGRAM INFORMATION AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The countywide Classified School Employee of the Year (CSEY) program is a component of the California Department of Education's (CDE) California School Recognition Program (CSRP). This program highlights contributions of classified school employees who support the education of California’s more than six million public school students from preschool through grade twelve. The CSEY Program pays tribute to the tireless efforts of our states outstanding classified school employees. From school bus drivers to cafeteria workers to instructional aides, these employees are the unsung heroes who play key roles in creating a school environment that contributes to the whole child by promoting student achievement, safety, and health.

Eligibility Criteria:

Be a current rank-and-file classified school employee, not in a management or supervisory position.
Have a minimum of five years of service in nomination occupational specialty, with no minimum full-time equivalent.
Have not been nominated to the Contra Costa CSEY program in the last three years.

Occupational Specialties:

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

2024-2025 County Classified School Employee of the Year Program Nominees

Clerical and Administrative Services

Stephanie Brady, College and Career Advisor, Acalanes Unified School District

Monica Chicas-Brizuela, Administrative Assistant II, Contra Costa County Office of Education

Kimber Monticelli, School Secretary, San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Nicole Nakasato, Student Enrollment Coordinator, Mt. Diablo Unified School District*

Custodial and Maintenance Services

Jose Cancio, Head Custodian, Mt. Diablo Unified School District

David DeMaria, Craftsman I, Walnut Creek School District

Andre Medrano, Custodian, John Swett Unified School District*

Flora Santiago, Head Custodian, Pittsburg Unified School District

Food and Nutrition Services

Gyongyi Iraheta, Lead Food Service Worker I, Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Amanda Jones, Food Service Worker, John Swett Unified School District*

Angelica Mouton, Cafeteria Lead, Martinez Unified School District

Debra Shanahan, Child Nutrition Manager, Pittsburg Unified School District

Health and Student Services

Amanda Farmer, Student Support Assistant, John Swett Unified School District*

Ai Dong Peng, Health Assistant - LVN Special Education, Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Paraprofessional Services

Elvia Awwad, Paraprofessional, Walnut Creek School District

Elizabeth Lopez, Instructional Assistant, Special Education, Contra Costa County Office of Education

Virgina Monge, Special Education Assistant, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Maria Morales, Para-Educator, John Swett Unified School District
Julia Myall, Instructional Assistant, Lafayette Elementary School District
Matthew Zonfrello, Instructional Assistant Specialist, Orinda Union School District*

Security Services

Anita Fontana, Campus Supervisor II, Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Sandra Styles, Yard Aide, John Swett Unified School District

Stephen Waters, Campus Resources Assistant, Pittsburg Unified School District*

Skilled Trades Services

Dennis Hunt, HVAC Technician, Pittsburg Unified School District
Joe B. Hernandez Jr., Mechanic II, Liberty Union High School District*

Technical Services

Andre Ellison, Network Technician, Pittsburg Unified School District*

Nichole Holly, Library Media Specialist, John Swett Unified School District
Tara O'Keefe, Network Systems Administrator, Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Transportation Services

Teresa Cross, School Bus Driver, Mt. Diablo Unified School District*

* Nominee selected as county finalist in category and will be submitted to the state CSEY program for consideration

2025-2026 Contra Costa County Office of Education
Classified School Employee of the Year Nominees

Alicia Franklin, Youth Services Specialist I, Health and Student Services
Brian Ehrhart, Technology Training Advisor, Technical Services
Dana Padilla, Administrative Assistant III, Clerical and Administrative Services
Daniel Pomeroy, Itinerant Instructional Assistant, Special Education, Paraprofessional Services
Dennis Watkins, Maintenance Worker II, Custodial and Maintenance Services
Dona Foreman, Instructional Assistant, Special Education, Paraprofessional Services
Emily Wright, Occupational Therapist, Paraprofessional Services
Gina Bills, Education Liaison, Health and Student Services
Gloria Morales, Custodian, Custodial and Maintenance Services
Melody Yee, Lead Accounting and Payroll Specialist, Clerical and Administrative Services
Suzanne Adams, Program Accountant, Clerical and Administrative Services
Yvonne Beals, Education Liaison, Health and Student Services