Lake County’s educators of the year honored
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education honored several local educators whose work has made an impact in the lives of students and the community at large.
The 24th annual Lake County Educator of the Year Awards Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Buckingham Clubhouse in Kelseyville.
Administrators and teachers from five of the six Lake County schools districts and the Lake County Office of Education, or LCOE, presented commendations to the honorees on behalf of the honoree’s district, LCOE, Congressman Mike Thompson and Congressman John Garamendi.
The California Department of Education recently selected Lake County Teacher of the Year, Erica Boomer, who teaches agriculture at Upper Lake High School, as one of five California Teachers of the Year.
LCOE acknowledged Boomer with a plaque. Jessica Stillman of Community First Credit Union presented Boomer with a check for $1,500.
Boomer competed with four other Lake County teachers for the title of Lake County Teacher of the Year in May 2018, representing Upper Lake Unified School District. She then represented Lake County at the California Teacher of the Year competition, leading to her recognition as one of the top educators in the state of California.
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, recognized Sarah Fuchs, athletic director at Lower Lake High School, as the “Lake County Champion of Education” for her work in organizing the opening of the Lower Lake High School shelter during the Mendocino Complex fire in July and August.
“Sarah led the effort to open Lower Lake High School as an evacuation shelter,” said Falkenberg. “Due to several fires in other parts of the state and nation, staffing from support organizations was not immediately available. Sarah had the courage to step up and coordinate a team of volunteers consisting of school staff, parents, and students to operate the shelter until support staffing could be mobilized.”
Falkenberg added, “Under Sarah’s leadership the shelter swelled to a population of over 850 evacuees, the largest evacuation center ever operated in Lake County. Sarah is an outstanding example of Lake County educators stepping up to take leadership roles to meet our community’s needs.”
The 2018 Lake County Educator of the Year Honorees include:
1. Erica Boomer, Upper Lake High School, Lake County and California Teacher of the Year
2. Traci Snider, Upper Lake Unified Classified Employee of the Year
3. Keely Antoni, Kelseyville Unified Teacher of the Year
4. Bonnie Hoeck, Kelseyville Unified Classified Employee of the Year
5. Kathleen Hayes, Konocti Unified Teacher of the Year
6. Olivia Jaramillo-Campos, Konocti Unified Classified Employee of the Year
7. Ana Goff, Lakeport Unified Teacher of the Year
8. Schad Schweitzer, Lakeport Unified Classified Employee of the Year
9. Joel Miller, Lake County Office of Education Classified Employee of the Year
10. Shaun Roderick, Middletown Unified Teacher of the Year
11. Sarah Fuchs, Lake County Champion of Education
Jennifer Kelly, science teacher from Middletown High School and Alan Siegel, social science/media teacher at Carlé Continuation High School in Clearlake were also on hand.
Kelly and Siegel were previous Lake County Teachers of the Year, who were recognized as California Teachers of the Year by the California Department of Education.
Community First Credit Union and Steele Wines were sponsors of the event.
The California Department of Education will honor Boomer as a California Teacher on Dec. 10 in Sacramento. Kelly and Siegel also be be attending the state event in December.