Contra Costa County Office of Education

Classified School Employee of the Year Program

District nominations are generally accepted from December 1 through 5:00pm on February 27 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

2025-2026 County Classified School Employee of the Year Program Nominees

Clerical and Administrative Services

Suzanne Adams, Program Accountant, Contra Costa County Office of Education

MaryAnne Brescia, Elementary School Secretary, Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Lynn Martinez, Principal's Secretary, Liberty Union High School District*

Melissa Melrose, School Secretary, Pittsbrug Unified School District

Custodial and Maintenance Services

Charlene Cardinale, Head Custodian, Martinez Unified School District

Jose Ramos, Custodian I, Pittsburg Unified School District

Blanca Verdin, Custodian, John Swett Unified School District

Dennis Watkins, Maintenance Worker II, Contra Costa County Office of Education*

Food and Nutrition Services

Counsello Augustine, Food Service Driver, Martinez Unified School District

Violeta Tria, FNS Driver and Warehouse Attendent, Mt. Diablo Unified School District*

Health and Student Services

Gina Bills, Education Liaision, Contra Costa County Office of Education*

Christopher Walk, Student Support Assistant, John Swett Unified School District

Paraprofessional Services

Jeffrey Barton, Special Education Aide, Brentwood Union School District

Jennifer Champion, Instructional Aide, Lafayette Elementary School District*

Tammy Dillon, Para Educator Health Attendant, Martinez Unified School District

Raquel Enriquez, Bilingual Aide, Pittsburg Unified School District

Adina Garcias, Para-Educator, John Swett Unified School District

Kim Montano, Special Education Assistant I, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Geraldine Socorro de Guzman, Special Services Assistant, Orinda Union School District

Diana Smith, Paraprofessional, Walnut Creek School District

Emily Wright Occupational Therapist, Contra Costa County Office of Education

Security Services

Shannon Bottorff, Lead Campus Supervisor, Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Doris Jarvis, Yard Aide, John Swett Unified School District

Chives Saxon, Campus Resources Assistant, Pittsburg Unified School District*

Skilled Trades Services

Michael Fobbs, Locksmith, Pittsburg Unified School District*

Technical Services

Brian Ehrhart, Technology Training Advisor, Contra Costa County Office of Education

Bren Erickson, Network Specialist, San Ramon Unified School District

Jessica Shotwell, Library Media and Tech Specialist, John Swett 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