An Extra Boost as the School Year Begins - Excellence in Education Awards

We all know some amazing local teachers. Yesterday the Chamber had the privilege of giving some of them an extra boost at the launch of their new school year. At the Education & Business Partnership Breakfast, over 300 community and business leaders came together to 40 honor outstanding educators -- from preschool to college -- who were nominated by their schools for the Excellence in Education Awards.

Special guest speaker and funny-man Paul Osincup kicked off the morning with a presentation about battling compassion fatigue, preventing burnout and maintaining perspective that energized the early morning crowd.

PG&E continued to demonstrate their commitment to both education and the community as the event's Gold Star Sponsor. Over the past 14 years, PG&E has generously donated more than $200,000 in grants that are distributed directly to the teachers at this event. Herman G. Hernandez, a Public Affairs Representative for PG&E, joined Chamber CEO Peter Rumble in presenting the nominees and award winners with certificates and checks that would go to support their classrooms or special projects.

"Once again, our community, with the chamber partners, understands the importance of education and business working together," said Superintendent Diann Kitamura. "We are so appreciative of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber for recognizing our teachers."

Success and sustainability for our future lies in our youth of today, and the Chamber congratulates all of our local educators as well as the Excellence in Education nominees and award winners. If you'd like to congratulate them too, click over to the photo album on Facebook.

Congratulations to the Excellence in Education award winners! Wartiningsih Susilo, Head Start - Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County; Indy Monday, Brook Hill Elementary School; Mike Persinger, James Monroe Elementary School; Eveta Jackson, Hilliard Comstock Middle School; Antonio Garcia, Santa Rosa Middle School; Kyla Brady-Long, Maria Carrillo High School; Chris Berg, Montgomery High School; Nancy Stuart, Empire College School of Business; Heather Bussing, Empire College School of Law. We also re-presented the award for an honoree from 1994, Doug Smith, whose award was lost in the fires along with his house.

2018 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION NOMINEES

PRE-SCHOOL LEVEL

  • Luz Edmonds, 4Cs Apples & Bananas
  • Beatriz Rodriguez, 4Cs Willow Creek
  • Wartiningsih Susilo, Head Start - Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL

  • Ana Maria Spiker, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
  • Richard McAnulty, Albert F. Biella Elementary School
  • Kelly Ramirez, Bellevue Elementary School
  • Indy Monday, Brook Hill Elementary School
  • Mary Fierro, Helen Lehman Elementary School
  • Mike Persinger, James Monroe Elementary School
  • Martha Menth, Kawana Springs Elementary School
  • Cynthia Spigarelli, Luther Burbank Elementary School
  • Suzanne Anderson, Meadow View Elementary School
  • Carol Forrest, Proctor Terrace Elementary School
  • Ingrid Hochrein, Taylor Mountain Elementary School

MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL

  • Carolina Garcia Saucedo, Herbert Slater Middle School
  • Nora Merrill, Herbert Slater Middle School
  • Eveta Jackson, Hilliard Comstock Middle School
  • Andy Weber, Hilliard Comstock Middle School
  • Jennifer Dominguez, Lawrence Cook Middle School
  • Megan Maydole, Lawrence Cook Middle School
  • Kara Myers, Rincon Valley Middle School
  • Abby Walls, Rincon Valley Middle School
  • Antonio Garcia, Santa Rosa Middle School
  • Casey Moore, Santa Rosa Middle School

HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

  • Ryan Corriveau, Cardinal Newman High School
  • Martha King, Cardinal Newman High School
  • Jenny Fleischer, Elsie Allen High School
  • Doug Gibson, Elsie Allen High School
  • Kyla Brady-Long, Maria Carrillo High School
  • Trish Terrell, Maria Carrillo High School
  • Chris Berg, Montgomery High School
  • Michelle Cook, Montgomery High School
  • Anjuli Hollman, Piner High School
  • Jenna Jewell, Piner High School
  • Kevin Costello, Santa Rosa High School
  • Lauren Liotta, Santa Rosa High School

2-YEAR COLLEGE LEVEL

  • Nancy Stuart, Empire College School of Business
  • Lauren Servais, Santa Rosa Junior College

4-YEAR COLLEGE LEVEL

  • Heather Bussing, Empire College School of Law
  • Scott Horstein, Sonoma State University