Community Update May 2024

Graduation season is here! We have so many students throughout Sutter County and beyond accomplishing their educational goals. Whether students are graduating from pre-school, elementary school, high school, college, or a technical education, we are so proud of each and every one of them. It takes hard work and dedication to move from one phase of life to the next. Congratulations to all of you.

Here at SCSOS, we have several students to be proud of.

We have seven students from Feather River Academy and Pathways Charter Academy ready to walk the graduation stage this year. At Sutter County Adult Education, we will have 40 to 50 graduates earning their High School Diploma. In our Career Technical Education (CTE) courses, we have graduates from Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, Vocational Nursing, and Dental Assisting. In the 23/24 school year, there have been a total of 115 CTE graduates who have either graduated or will be graduating this month. And through the Sutter County Career Training Center, we have sent off 68 in the 23/24 school year. Fifty-four are from our Medical Assisting program and 14 from our Cosmetology program. Several of our SCSOS students are either continuing their education through our programs or are moving on to employment in our community.

I may have to admit, my favorite graduations are through our Special Education programs. We have several special education classrooms across Sutter County in which we work directly with a variety of special needs students. We have a total of 21 eighth grade students graduating who will be moving on to our high school programs. From our high school programs, 18 students will be graduating. Seventeen of those students will be joining us here at the county office in our Adult Transition program in the fall. Finally, we have four students promoting from ATP.

Not only is graduation season an accomplishment for students, but for the instructors and staff who helped to make this possible. Thank you to all of our Sutter County educators for your hard work in supporting our students and their success.

Congratulations to the class of 2024!

Esteban Alvarado III, son of Joanna and Steve Alvarado, is graduating from Live Oak High School. He will be attending Marian University in Wisconsin in the fall and will be playing on the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Team. Esteban earned an academic scholarship and will be majoring in pre-dentistry with plans to become a dental hygienist.

Our own Jasmine Bartolome from the Communications Department is graduating from Chico State with her bachelors degree in Communications and Public Affairs and a minor in Criminal Justice. She has worked hard to achieve her goal and we are so proud of her! Congratulations Jasmine!

Naseem Bhatti, stepson of Elizabeth Bhatti, will be graduating from Sutter High School this June. His plans are to go to a Junior College and play basketball for two years before transferring to a four year where he hopes to continue playing basketball while he pursues his degree. He is an intelligent, kind, and mature young man, and his dad and Elizabeth, along with his mom and stepdad, are incredibly proud of him.

Anthony Dale Boswell is the son of Kelli Mclain. He is graduating from Woodland High School and plans to attend Sacramento City College to study Kinesiology and play college basketball.

I am thrilled to share some exciting news from our family! My daughter, Reagan is set to graduate on May 18, marking a significant milestone in her journey. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Throughout her time at OBU, she has exemplified dedication and perseverance, both academically and athletically. As a 4-year student athlete on the NCAA Division II Softball Team, she has consistently shone with a remarkable career .327 batting average. Her achievements include earning spots on the D2CCA All-Central Region 2 Team and All Great American Conference First Team, showcasing her talent and commitment to excellence. We are especially proud to note that herteam has achieved remarkable success, clinching back to back Conference Championships for both 2023 and 2024.

Beyond her athletic accomplishments, we admire her ambition and passion for helping others. She plans to further her education by pursuing a master's degree, with the goal of becoming a therapist. Her dedication to making a positive impact in people's lives is truly inspiring, and we have no doubt that she will excel in her future endeavors.

Submitted by: Kellee Ford, mother

Kason Garramore, son of Kaylee Garramore, is graduating from the 8th grade at Tierra Buena School where he has attended since kindergarten. He will be attending Sutter Union High School this fall. He is looking forward to playing football and being an active member of the Sutter FFA.

Kayleah Gonzales, daughter of Merisa Gonzales, is graduating in June from UC Davis with her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. She plans to move back home temporarily after graduation and work for the next year while applying for grad school. She has finished all of the pre-requisites for the masters of nursing program. She will decide on the specialty she will focus on when she goes through clinical rotations. Due to COVID, Kayleah’s college experience was very untraditional, but she made the best of it and is excited to have a real in-person graduation this time. My family and I are beyond proud of Kayleah!! Go Aggies!!

Reyna Gonzales, daughter of Merisa Gonzales, will be graduating from Sutter High School. She plans to continue working and increase her hours to full time while taking a gap year from school to decide which avenue to take next. She has plans in the works to also become an assistant/apprentice for a local photographer to get hands on experience and advice on how to open up her own photography studio. Reyna plans to enroll in business classes in 2025 to assist her in starting off her business on the right foot. She has many other interests including teaching and cosmetology so we’ll have to wait and see where life takes her. Even though Reyna’s high school years were very untraditional due to COVID, she made the best of it and my family and I are extremely proud of her!!

Kaitlyn Hardie, Granddaughter of Sandra Jopson and niece of Jessica Jopson, graduating from Sutter Middle School in Folsom.

Michael Hendrix, son of Joe Hendrix, is graduating from CORE Charter school in Marysville. He is very friendly, creative, and outgoing. Michael enjoys drawing, acting, and creating YouTube videos to entertain others. Michael is a dedicated student who works hard to maintain good grades. He looks forward to driving and making more friends in high school.

Sharin Liddar (daughter of Baljit Liddar) completed her education from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in January 2024 and will be walking on May 17th in Miami, FL. She was offered her dream job and started working as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in March. This has been her lifelong dream and one that she made into a reality with a lot of hard work and determination. It was a long journey, but she did it. Baljit is so proud to introduce her daughter as Dr. Sharin Liddar to the world!

Savana Linker, daughter of Lindsay Linker, is graduating from 8th grade from Riverside Meadows Intermediate School in Plumas Lake. She will be attending Wheatland High School next school year. She has had her best academic year so far with a 4.0 GPA and she has already made the Wheatland Pirates Junior Varsity Cheer squad for next year!

Layla McGraw, daughter of Chelsey McGraw, will be promoting from 8th grade in June from Twelve Bridges Middle School. She will attend Twelve Bridges High School in the fall, hopes to continue her cheerleading career at TBHS (tryouts are in May) and is looking forward to her high school years.

James and Karen Peters are fortunate to have two graduates this year. Ashley and Jamal are graduating with their master's degrees. Both live together in Berkeley and are pursuing careers in education. Ashley focuses on the social and emotional side, and Jamal pursues administration and business. James and Karen are so proud!

Gia Pomeroy, daughter of the late Eric Pomeroy and Daniela Pomeroy, will be graduating 8th grade from Franklin Elementary. Gia will be attending Sutter Union High School and is looking forward to going to school with her sister. After high school, Gia would like to attend UC Davis University to become a dentist.

Gia has been working very hard on her academics and her polo sport. Gia started working at the Ranch with horses and being a counselor polo for the summer kids program at the Sutter Buttes Polo Club. She also receives scholarships from the UC Davis University polo team to pay for her membership to be an Aggie member. Gia receives a sponsorship for her polo outfits from the USPA.

Gia loves spending time with her sister, her mom, and the two dogs Smooch and Max. We are so proud of the beautiful, kind, girl Gia is becoming.

Congratulations and we love you so much!

Sofia Romo, daughter of Duliamaria Aguilar, and her husband, Christian Romo are both graduating from college! Sofia is graduating with her Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University and Christian with his Bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. Both have worked hard to pursue their dreams and will continue their education by attending graduate school at UNLV. Sofia to pursue her Master’s degree and Christian to pursue his Masters and PhD. Duliamaria is incredibly proud of them for their dedication and hard work to their education and future.

Dane Thomas, grandson of LaVonne Jensen-Ruiz, is graduating from Kindergarten at Brittan Elementary, Ms. Anderson’s class.

Dane loves to play baseball and wants to be a professional baseball player when he grows up.

Gwenivere Fredrick is promoting from the 8th grade to high school Congratulations, Gwenivere! We will miss seeing Gwenivere's bright, cheerful smile. We wish her all the best at high school where we know she will befriend everyone she meets, just as she did here at Butte Vista. Her strong work ethic and enthusiasm will serve her well! We wish her all the best at high school.

Xyladar Garcia is promoting from the 8th grade to high school. Congratulations, Xyladar! Xyladar has worked very hard this year in class and he has made a lot of friends on the Butte Vista campus. He is kind and patient with others and he has a fun sense of humor. He enjoys sharing his interest in animals and bugs with school staff and classmates. We wish Xyladar the best at high school!

Sahibveer Kaylon is promoting from the 8th grade to high school. Congratulations, Sahibveer! We will miss Sahibveer at Butte Vista. He has worked very hard this year in class and he has built kind, respectful friendships with his classmates. Sahibveer has a strong work ethic and he takes pride in doing a good job. We wish Sahibveer all the best at high school!

Tiara Quinones is promoting from the 8th grade to high school. Congratulations, Tiara! Tiara is a fun, sweet person with a great sense of humor. We have really enjoyed getting to know her at Butte Vista. We will miss her jokes and her friendly way with people and look forward to hearing all about her progress on her new campus. We wish Tiara all the best at high school!

Gurshan Singh is promoting to the 8th grade to high school. Congratulations, Gurshan! Gurshan is a very fun and playful person. He has a great sense of humor and loves to share a laugh with classmates and school staff. Gurshan is a good friend to his classmates. He is warm and kind and is always ready to help when needed. We will miss Gurshan at Butte Vista. We wish him all the best at high school!

Brody Worley is promoting from 8th grade to high school. Congratulations, Brody! Brody is one of the coolest guys you'll ever meet and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know him here at Butte Vista. From his friendly greeting first thing in the morning until his fare-thee-well in the afternoon, Brody works hard and has fun; occasionally getting in some sweet dance moves when the music moves him brightly! We wish Brody all the best!

All stories submitted by: Marcus Marler

In the short time that I have worked with Haley, I have had the opportunity to connect with her as her teacher. It has been a pleasure being able to come to work everyday and be able to interact with Haley’s bright smile and acts of kindness. Haley’s positive attitude will impact the rest of her peers as her energy radiates throughout the classroom. We will miss having Haley in classroom 211, yet we wish her the best of luck in her new program where we know she can continue to grow as an individual and be a good citizen within our community.

Although I have been Luna’s short term teacher for the past few months, I have seen an immense growth in her character and academic abilities. Luna is a sharp minded young lady in which she demonstrates her competencies by doing far more than what the set expectation is. Indeed I was astonished by her interest in learning other world languages such as Portuguese. Her angelic singing voice will be greatly missed in room 211, as we will be needing to recruit more bilingual singers like Luna. We are excited for Luna to move on to ATP where she will continue to expand her skills and interests.

It was a delight to have Miguel in room 211. In such a short time, I have seen Miguel improve on his overall growth such as his functional skills, as well as his willingness to learn. He has mastered his responsibilities by staying on top of his classroom job as kitchen assistant. Truly it is great to see the improvements he makes on a daily basis and watch him continue to show his enthusiasm to acquire new skills. We are looking forward to his future success at ATP.

All stories submitted by: Miss Khamone

Angel is a happy young man with a lot of determination to achieve goals in his life such as communicating and expressing his ideas and needs through his AAC TOBII Tablet. Angel has many dreams that he wants to fulfill, such as swimming with dolphins and travelling to Mexico. Angel has been my life and inspiration.

Submitted by: Angel's mother

Staff will miss his smile and listening to his favorite song picks of the week.

Aiden Bryce Malecha, born August 21, 2002, is a man of few words (when not at home 😊). Aiden has three younger siblings, all of whom he loves very much. Aiden is a very kind sole who loves animals and other people. Anyone who meets Aiden loves him too!!! As many of his classmates know, Aiden is a HUGE Star Wars fan!!!! Aiden began his education at Butte Vista in Yuba City where he attended from preschool through the fifth grade. Upon entering the sixth grade, his program moved to Gray Avenue School, where he attended until he promoted out of the eighth grade. Aiden spent all his high school years at Sutter Union High School, GO Huskies. Upon graduating in 2020, he attended the Adult Transition Program (ATP) through the school district, being in Ms. Jenson classroom his first three years of the program and Mr. Tan’s classroom this past year. Aiden has liked his educational journey and has really enjoyed ATP these past four years. Aiden is sad to be moving on from his fellow classmates, and educational staff, but looks forward to many more life adventures as an adult. Thank you to everyone that has assisted Aiden throughout his many educational years!!!

Submitted by: Julie and Drake Malecha, parents of Aiden Malecha

Travis has many hobbies; he loves art, the outdoors, swimming and boating and especially Christmas. Travis will stay active with his family outings and adventures as well as continuing his arts and crafts. He hopes to attend an adult day program such as Learning Arts Center on Plumas St., where the clients are able to sell the items they make. Staff will miss his strong will and passion for art.

Submitted by: Lavonne Jensen-Ruiz

"May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions." (NAMI)

For more information on Mental Health Awareness, click here.

"The world is constantly changing, for better or for worse, and it can be overwhelming to deal with everything going on around you. While society is getting more comfortable discussing mental health, it can still be hard to know “Where to Start” when it comes to taking care of your own well-being. The slides below will give you some tips on how to recognize and take care of your mental health."

On Saturday, April 13th, we were able to send home men's attire and 50 dresses with students for free through our annual Prom Wear Giveaway event. Partnering with the Yuba-Sutter Marketplace, this is our third year of bringing formal wear to students in the Yuba-Sutter area free of charge.

Seeing smiles and confidence light up faces was truly heartwarming. A huge thanks to everyone that donated and contributed their time to make dreams come true. Let's keep making unforgettable memories together!

Our Adult Education Open House was a huge success! On Tuesday, April 9, the general public as well as educators were given tours of our programs and facilities. If you would like more information regarding our adult education programs, please contact Kari Hauser at khauser@sutter.k12.ca.us or call 530-822-5810.

We are so excited to announce our very first annual Shady Creek Concert in the Park! We at Shady Creek are so excited to be able to have this opportunity to give back to the community we love so much. Sutter and Yuba counties are our heart, and we are looking forward to giving back with our favorite partner, Sutter Health!

Mark your calendar and tell your friends. It’s going to be the perfect way to kick off summer!

In other news, if you haven’t ever seen the grounds at Shady Creek in the spring time, you’re definitely missing out. It’s gorgeous! We are busier than ever, and you know what that means – kids are having the times of their lives! Here’s a quick snapshot to all we served since March.

Schools Served

Butte Vista, Barry, Paradise Charter Middle School, Achieve Charter, Children’s Community Charter, Vina, St. Thomas, Arboga, Edgewater, Johnson Park, Abraham Lincoln, Ella, Olivehurst, Cedar Lane, Murdock, Biggs, Clear Creek, Anna McKenney, Linda, and Emma Wilson.

Events Hosted

NASA, California Mini Corps, Woman Within, and Shady Creek Student Naturalist Hiring Workshop.

School Field Trips

Twin Rivers Charter, Wild Flower, Foskett Ranch, Grizzly Hill, and Creekside Oaks.

Story Time

Back in the brisk winter of 2007, my twin, Jason (aka Sasquatch), and I stepped into Ophir Elementary ready for a rip-roaring good time with the kids. It was a typical rainy day that had driven everyone indoors, turning the school cafeteria into the ultimate crab soccer arena. If you haven’t played crab soccer, picture this: it’s like normal soccer, but you’re bound to get hit with a wild kick and your wrists will definitely feel it later!

Sitting out the first round, I caught up with Enrique, a kid who was all heart from head to toe. He was the kind of kid I saw a bit of myself in, a little on the large side, with a goofy grin that just wouldn’t quit. Enrique, in all his glorious enthusiasm, spilled all the school’s latest and greatest news. Soon, it was game time, and the stars aligned. I was not only on Enrique’s team, but we were up against Sasquatch, my ultimate rival.

The game? A barn burner! It was neck and neck until the final seconds. Then, like magic, the ball was mine. But out of the corner of my eye, was Enrique, smile blazing like the sun. In a heartbeat, I passed him the ball.

What came next was pure gold. Enrique was stunned, but he landed the winning goal! He took off like a shot, and I found him in the hallway, face mashed against the office door, crying happy tears and still wearing that sunshine smile. He then shared that this was his first goal. His first goal of his life.

That’s exactly why I love my job. It’s all about teeing up kids like Enrique for their shining moments, their first big wins. Sure, being a star is cool, but making stars? That’s the stuff of legends.

Photos

Of course a Shady Creek update would be incomplete without student letters and photos! This month’s update has some gems….. Including a musical version of my Top Ten for Mr. Tom Reusser.

BOOMSHAKALAKA!

We are excited to announce Shady Creek Outdoor School is coming to the valley for an unforgettable afternoon on Sunday, June 2nd! This is your perfect kickoff to summer, so make sure to mark your calendars! You won't want to miss this electrifying event.

The flyer above is for families and attendees, the flyer below is if you wish to participate in our event in some fashion. If you are interested in participating, please messaged:

• Kristi Johnson, Senior Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Accountability at KristiJ@sutter.k12.ca.us
• Christopher Little, Director of Shady Creek Outdoor School & Event Center at ChristopherL@sutter.k12.ca.us

Sutter Union High School houses two of our Special Day Classrooms (SDCs). One of those SDCs is for students with Significant Disabilities (SD). There are twelve students being taught by special education teacher, George Hoffman, and supported by Para Educators: Serena Sanchez, Anita Jenkins and Suzi Bustamantez. They provide a high quality education for these students. During their day in the SDC, they work on all academic subjects while the focus is functional life skills. Students get real life lessons as they participate in Community Based Instruction; one example is that they create a shopping list, go shopping in a small group with para educators, compare prices, and determine if they have sufficient funds to make a purchase.

“Mr. George is kind, patient, and connects with students, parents, and support staff in a praiseworthy way. He gets to know his students and understands what they are trying to communicate to him,” Principal Tej Khera, said. “He advocates for his students and their needs, and the parents praise his demeanor.”

This is George Hoffman’s second year of teaching this classroom and with SCSOS. “I enjoy working with my students and getting to know them,” Mr. George said. “I enjoy learning about their personalities.”

George’s students enjoy learning culinary skills and often have barbecue with other classes. His students also enjoys having peer helpers from Mr. Shawn Howard’s class (next-door).

SCSOS is fortunate to have such dedicated educators in this classroom at Sutter Union High School.

SCSOS Special Education Teacher, Shawn Howard, brings new meaning to classroom hero. He lives his life by a code and this carries over into his teaching and mentoring students. He has nine students in his Special Day Classroom (SDC) and he has high expectations for them. In fact, he holds the SCSOS Special Education record for the most students earning their high school diploma as opposed to a Certificate of Completion. He has also referred three students successfully back to their school of residence, during the last couple of years.

“Shawn pushes all of his students to do their best,” Principal Tej Khera shared. “He has high expectations for them. He is kind, but hold them accountable, and stays calm under pressure. Shawn keeps me informed with changes and transitions of students’ academic and personal lives.”

His students’ daily routine consists of part time in his classroom and part time mainstreaming in the general education classes. When the students are with him, he teaches Social Studies, Math, English and Life Skills. Every Friday, the students participate in a baking lesson. The students are encouraged to become as independent as possible. They also participate in school field trips and attend all school assemblies.

“I provide as much access as possible to my students’ general education peers,” Shawn said. “Fortunately, the Sutter Union High School is open to that and supports my students on a consistent basis. We are probably one of the most veteran and well equipped staff in the county,” Shawn further added. “We have a very supportive and understanding principal and the county (SCSOS) has provided every bit of training I’ve requested over the years.”

Shawn is an Advanced Nurtured Heart Trainer and has twenty years of teaching experience. He works alongside two wonderful and supportive para educators Melysah Seaman and Chris VonBargen. Both Melysah & Chris provide student support with mainstreaming courses, and in the SDC, leading students to independence.

SCSOS is fortunate to have such dedicated educators in our classrooms at Sutter Union High School.

Housed at Andros Karperos School, SCSOS non-categorical classroom serves 11 students. Teacher Shyla Hernandez, Para Educators Kelli McLain and Loressa Relski provide a high quality education for these students. Some students mainstream throughout the day while some are in the classroom all day long.

“I enjoy helping my students discover their individual strengths and abilities,” Shyla Hernandez said. “It is a privilege to provide students with an education which fosters their individual strengths and abilities while supporting their growth in various areas of learning”.

The students’ academics include the following curriculum: Wonders for English/Language Arts, GoMath for Mathematics, and Lexia for reading. They also have MobyMax for science and social studies.

Shyla said that teaching students self-regulation and emotional control is something they work on daily. She uses the Zones of Regulation Curriculum in order to give students an accessible language to use to communicate how they are feeling and to identify strategies for gaining control of their emotions and behavior. The students have collaborated with staff throughout the year to create clear expectations to be followed in the classroom to ensure a safe, positive, and productive learning space. To reinforce expectations, students follow a video game themed agenda throughout the day to track how they are meeting classroom expectations and to motivate them to earn hearts for being a team player and coins for completing work.

“I am passionate about encouraging my students to utilize what they are learning in the classroom and providing them with opportunities to reflect on how their learning positively impacts their lives”. Shyla said, “I believe in setting high-expectations for students and cultivating their skills and confidence to help each student achieve them.”

Shyla and her staff build strong relationships with their students, which creates a stronger classroom climate of learning. There is a strong level of respect between staff and students.

SCSOS is fortunate to have such dedicated staff in our non-categorical classroom at Andros Karperos School.

It is with great pleasure that we extend our heartfelt accolades to the exceptional staff members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) program at Tierra Buena. Their unwavering dedication and hard work have created an environment where students thrive and excel.

One of the hallmarks of the DHH program at Tierra Buena is its rich learning environment. Students are immersed in a diverse range of experiences that enhance their educational journey. From engaging field trips to active participation in sports, students in the DHH program are given every opportunity to explore, learn, and grow.

Teacher Shannon Kruzic has been teaching for 28 years. She shares the classroom with two para educators, Ryan Mather and Linnea Stevenson and two sign language interpreters, Marie Hernandez and Richianne Rossellini. Ryan has eight years of experience, Marie has 25 years of experience, Richianne has 10 years of experience and Linnea has served as a long term substitute para educator for four years. They work as a team to ensure that all students in their care receive a high quality education.

“My favorite thing about my work is when the light bulb goes off for the student,” Teacher Shannon Kruzic said. “Especially when he or she has been struggling with a concept.”

“The staff of the DHH program are not only dedicated but deeply invested in the success and well- being of every student under their care,” Principal Lizeth Ramirez said. “Their commitment goes beyond the classroom, ensuring that each student is provided with the necessary support to reach their full potential.”

Moreover, the integration of DHH students into general education activities and events is a testament to the inclusive ethos of the program. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and collaboration, the DHH program at Tierra Buena not only supports academic growth but also nurtures social and emotional development.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated staff members of the DHH program for their tireless efforts in shaping the lives of our students. Your commitment to excellence is truly commendable, and we are grateful for the positive impact you make each day.

Housed at Butte Vista Elementary School, our Special Day Class for 4-8th grade Autism Spectrum Disorder students serves 13 students. Teacher Marcus Marler has been teaching Special Education for the past nine years. He serves alongside five wonderful para educators: Kathy Ueckert, Clarissa Suarez, Mariah Suarez, Michelle Backman and Alia Morales and behavior assistant, Casey McCurry.

Marcus's leadership shines brightly as he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure his students receive the utmost care and education, fostering strong relationships with parents along the way. Their dynamic energy and camaraderie make them not only effective educators but also a joyous and fun group to work with, creating an enriching environment for all involved.

“Marcus's leadership shines brightly as he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure his students receive the utmost care and education, fostering strong relationships with parents along the way,” Princial Lizeth Ramirez said. “Their dynamic energy and camaraderie make them not only effective educators but also a joyous and fun group to work with, creating an enriching environment for all involved.”

Students benefit from a variety of activities to help them achieve their IEP goals. Students are working on a wide range of skills from learning to recognize their name when it is called, learning to add two digit numbers and carry the ten to learning to read using the Lexia Program.

“I enjoy being of service to children and their families,” Teacher Marcus Marler said. “My number one favorite thing is when a parent says that their student loves coming to school.”

SCSOS is fortunate to have such dedicated professionals for our Butte Vista Special Day Class.

In the bustling corridors of Butte Vista Elementary, amidst the vibrant murmur of students and the rustle of papers, there exists a beacon of light, a rising star in the realm of education – Meagan. A teacher in the making, Meagan is currently putting the finishing touches on her credential program, but her impact is already palpable, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who encounter her.

With an innate ability to teach that seems almost effortless, Meagan possesses a rare blend of patience, compassion, and vigor that sets her apart. Whether she's guiding her students through a English Language Art lesson or a new math concept, Meagan's teaching style is characterized by a gentle grace, a genuine warmth that envelops her classroom like a comforting embrace.

But Meagan's influence extends far beyond the four walls of her classroom. As she navigates the labyrinthine corridors of Butte Vista Elementary, she is not merely a teacher, but a leader in the truest sense of the word. Despite still getting to know her fellow staff members, Meagan has already proven herself to be a guiding light, a source of inspiration and support for all who work alongside her.

One of Meagan's most remarkable qualities is her unwavering dedication to her para-educators: Janae Reyes, Martin Rodriguez and Chelsy Brooks. Recognizing the vital role they play in the educational ecosystem, Meagan takes the time to mentor and guide them, showing them how to navigate the often-choppy waters of difficult behavior with patience and grace. Under her tutelage, they blossom, becoming confident, capable educators in their own right.

"In our classroom, we are a family," Teacher Meagan Thomas said. "We learn together, we grow together and always make amazing things happen."

And the staff at Butte Vista Elementary? They are a testament to Meagan's leadership, a tight-knit group bound together by a shared sense of purpose and a deep-seated commitment to the students they serve. Always ready and available to lend a helping hand, they form a formidable team, united in their mission to nurture and inspire the next generation.

“In the ever-changing landscape of education, Meagan stands as a shining example of what it means to be a teacher – not just a purveyor of knowledge, but a beacon of hope, a guiding light in the darkness.” Principal Lizeth Ramirez said. “As she continues on her journey, finishing up her credential program and embarking on the next chapter of her career, one thing is certain – the world is a brighter place because of educators like Meagan.”