LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Monday, Senate Leader Mike McGuire led a celebration during a Senate floor ceremony at the State Capitol honoring Becky Salato, superintendent of Konocti Unified School District, as the 2025 North Coast Woman of the Year.

As superintendent, Becky Salato prides herself on building bridges and strong relationships in Lake County and the communities she works for, constantly delivering results for the students and families she proudly serves.

McGuire said Salato has fearlessly guided Konocti Unified through some of the toughest challenges facing the community including the COVID pandemic, low graduation rates, and multiple wildfires that have upended lives and destroyed countless homes in Lake County.

“Becky Salato has dedicated her life to improving the lives of kids. Her belief is simple, but bold: all kids, no matter their background, deserve the best,” McGuire said. “Her leadership during some of the most challenging times Lake County has faced has been stellar. The entire Lake County community has benefited from her dedication and leadership and we are so fortunate to have her here in Northern California. This recognition is very well deserved.”

Sen. McGuire honored Salato on the Senate floor with a resolution as part of the Senate’s annual Woman of the Year ceremony.

“I am so honored to be acknowledged by Sen. McGuire,” said Salato. “He’s a tireless advocate for our students and we’re all grateful for his partnership. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do the work I do with our amazing Konocti students, teachers, and staff. Their futures are always worth the fight. I look forward to many more years of serving our community together.”

Becky Salato has been serving as Konocti Unified School District’s superintendent for five years.

She said she is proud of the district’s accomplishments in recent years but says the work is far from over.

Last month, the Association of California School Administrators named Salato the 2024 Region 4 Superintendent of the Year, as Lake County News has reported.

McGuire is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. He represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties.