Pleasant Hill, Calif.– Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) proudly honored its Teacher of the Year (TOY) and Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) at the 2025 Celebration of Excellence Awards reception on March 11, 2025.
These prestigious awards are part of the California Department of Education’s California School Recognition Program, which highlights the invaluable contributions of teachers and school employees who support CCCOE’s students from preschool through adult education. Among the honorees are instructional aides, clerical workers, paraprofessionals, classroom teachers, and other dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to foster an environment that promotes academic success, achievement, health, and safety for all students.
“The Celebration of Excellence Awards is a special event for us to honor and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our 15 certificated and classified employees,” County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “These staff members stand out for their commitment to our students and families. Our agency supports some of the county’s most at-risk students, including those who are incarcerated, without stable housing, in foster care, or dealing with serious physical or emotional difficulties. Despite the challenging circumstances, these employees truly care about their jobs and the individuals they serve, making a significant difference in the lives of our students every day.”
CCCOE’s 2025 Celebration of Excellence reception marked the second year the agency combined its Teacher of the Year (TOY) and Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) recognition ceremonies. The event brought together school and program administrators, Board President Annette Lewis, County Superintendent Lynn Mackey, representatives of labor unions, and dozens of colleagues to honor the nominees and recipients of these prestigious awards.
Monica Chicas-Brizuela, Administrative Assistant at Contra Costa Adult School and Elizabeth Lopez, IA Special Education at Turner Elementary School will represent the agency in the county’s Classified School Employee of the Year competition on April 23.
List of CCCOE’s Classified School Employee Nominees
- Casie Pruett, Human Resources Specialist, Human Resources
- Danielle Davies, School Administrative Assistant, Far East County Student Programs – Liberty Transition and Heritage High School
- Heidi Andrews, Program Accountant, Business Services
- Monica Chicas-Brizuela, Administrative Assistant, Contra Costa Adult School
- Denise Connors, IA Special Education, Diablo Vista Elementary School
- Duane Patton, IA Special Education, Contra Costa Adult School
- Elizabeth Lopez, IA Special Education, Turner Elementary School
- Renee Maez, IA Behavior Support, Golden Gate Community Schools
- Memo Morales, IA Special Education, O’Hara Park Middle 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.
Carianne Kowalski, an education specialist at the Diablo Vista Special Education preschool program, was named CCCOE’s Teacher of the Year. She will represent the agency in the Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year program, with the county’s Teachers of the Year being celebrated on September 18.
List of CCCOE’s Teacher of the Year Nominees
- Roxanne Brown, Teacher, Contra Costa Adult School
- Eva De Lucia-Zeltzer, Teacher, Mt. McKinley School
- Marissa Gardner, Teacher, Liberty Transition
- Carianne Kowalski, Teacher, Diablo Vista Elementary School
- Barbara Norris, Teacher, Contra Costa Adult School
- Kerry Rooney, School Psychologist, Golden Gate Community Schools
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.
About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,394 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 287 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.
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