Pleasant Hill, Calif.-- Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) recognized its Teacher of the Year (TOY) and Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) at the 2024 Celebration of Excellence Awards reception on March 5, 2024.
The agency's CSEY program and TOY program are part of the California Department of Education's California School Recognition Program. These programs shine a light on the contributions of teachers and school employees who support CCCOE's students, from preschool through adult school. These exceptional employees include school nurses, instructional aides, clerical workers, paraprofessionals, classroom teachers, and additional professionals who work tirelessly to create a school environment conducive to students' academic success, achievements, health, and safety.
“The Celebration of Excellence Awards is an opportunity for us to thank and celebrate our certificated and classified nominees for their commitment to Contra Costa County Office of Education’s mission,” County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “Our agency supports some of our county's most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, and students who have severe physical or emotional challenges. Working with students can be both challenging and rewarding, but it is a profession we choose to pursue, and I am incredibly grateful to have these exceptional employees on our team.”
CCCOE’s 2024 Celebration of Excellence reception was the first time the agency combined its TOY and CSEY recognition ceremonies. School and program administrators, Board President Mike Maxwell, County Superintendent Lynn Mackey, representatives of the labor unions, and dozens of colleagues gathered to commend the nominees and the recipients of the Teacher of the Year award and Classified School Employee of the Year awards.
Andria Madsen, an education specialist at the Liberty Transition program, was selected as CCCOE’s Teacher of the Year. She will represent the agency in the Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year program. The county’s Teachers of the Year will be celebrated on September 19.
Nicole Grimshaw, Testing and Transcript Evaluator at Contra Costa Adult School and Roxanne Peacock, Instructional Assistant, Special Education at Mt. McKinley School will represent the agency in the county Classified Employee of the Year competition. They will be celebrated along with classified school employees throughout the county on April 24.
List of CCCOE’s Classified School Employee Nominees
• Nicole Grimshaw, Testing and Transcript Evaluator, Contra Costa Adult School
• Roxanne Peacock, Instructional Assistant, Special Education, Mt. McKinley School
• Angelo Abrea, Technology Support Technician, Contra Costa Adult School
• Robin Hollibaugh, Instructional Assistant, Behavior Support, Marchus School
Contra Costa County Office of Education has posted information online about the county’s
Classified School Employee recognition program. The state’s
Classified School Employee program webpage has information about the nomination and application process.
List of CCCOE’s Teacher of the Year Nominees
• Ashley Alfaro, Registered Credentialed School Nurse, Student Programs - East County
• Dennis Frese, Independent Study Teacher, Contra Costa Adult School
• Andria Madsen, Education Specialist, Liberty Transition
• Yuko Niikura, MSN, RN, Liberty Transition
• Monika Olsen, Adult Education DEUCE, Contra Costa Adult School
• Tera Uppstad, Teacher, Mt. McKinley School
• Lisa Zamora, Teacher, O’Hara Park Middle School
Information about the Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year program can be found on
CCCOE’s website; details about California’s Teachers of the Year program and required criteria is located on the
California Department of Education website.
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About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County (CCCOE) has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of our county's most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county's 286 schools or
18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at
www.cocoschools.org.