Lover of life. Adventurer and public servant. General positive force. Communication, engagement, and policy to make the world better for the future = our youth.
Today I had the opportunity to celebrate the culmination of RCOE’s LEAD FORWARD leadership development series and hear directly from our classified staff participants about their leadership growth and learning journey.
This morning I joined hundreds of education leaders at @theCAAASA 2026 Statewide Professional Development Summit, which RCOE is proud to co-host this year. At @RCOE, we believe access and opportunity must be treated as responsibilities, not aspirations.
Our goal is to serve students in all the ways they need to thrive. Which made yesterday particularly meaningful, as @RCOE leadership team members came together to pack food bags for our families. This effort will continue weekly to help make the season brighter for the community.
Honored to recognize Mr. Gabriel Fajardo as our 2026 @RCOE Principal of the Year. His focus on connection, communication, and culture is transforming Alternative Education campuses into places where students and staff thrive. A well deserved honor.
Honored to recognize Dr. Keasha Russell as our 2027 @RCOE Teacher of the Year. Her leadership in Sports Medicine CTE prepares students for careers in healthcare while modeling compassion, professionalism, and service. A truly deserving recipient.
In this episode of #RCOEtheTorch pro athelete & "Don't Let the System Beat You” author Dwayne Wallace shares how his journey from football to public service has become a mission to empower #FosterYouth. Subscribe to Season3️⃣ @Spotify@ApplePodcasts 📺📼@ youtu.be/7zBy1Y2iyIo.
ALT Featuring Dwayne Wallace, Author & Former NFL Player, episode 13 of The Torch, a Podcast by Riverside County Office of education. Beyond the NFL: Dwayne Wallace on Building a Future for Foster Youth.
Running while traveling changes more than your route, it changes your perspective. Infinitely grateful for miles and smiles throughout downtown #Seattle on our family trip ☀️🏃♀️🐳
#travelrunner#fitleaders@fit_leaders#ExploreMore
Congrats to our @RCOE honorees at last night’s #EmployeeRecognition. We celebrated 7 Employees of the Year, 100 staff members reaching career milestones of 10-45 years of service & 50 retiring team members who averaged 24 yrs of dedication to RCOE & our #RivCo communities.🏆
Sharing a healthy lifestyle with my family, particularly my kids, means the world. No better way to celebrate our daughter’s sixth birthday than with two epic weekend hikes 🥳⛰️🥰
#fitleader#familyfitness@fit_leaders
“Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will.” Mahatma Gandhi
One of the hardest trials I’ve done, but so very grateful to conquer Cactus to Clouds. What a gift to be able to push past physical limits and witness the majesty of God 🙌⛰️✨
Sometimes you have to show up for your long run when the sun’s not out and you have to do the miles on your own… maybe that’s when you grow the most 🩷
Rain or shine, it’s a happy Sunday ☺️
#runninglifelessons#fitleaders@fit_leaders
It’s officially May, and in less than two weeks we will be celebrating our 2025 Educators of the Year. Register today to join us for the Celebrating Educators Luncheon on Tuesday, May 13, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the Riverside Convention Center. REGISTER @ events.rcoe.us/2025-Celebrat…
ALT CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Maria Lozano, Career Dev Facilitator, Moreno Valley USD. CLASSIFIED ADMIN OF THE YEAR, Marcus Ridley, Assist Director, Classified Personnel, Riverside USD. SITE SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Jennifer Camargo, SEL Support Lake Elsinore USD. CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Erika Barragan, Exec Assist Palm Springs USD. COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR Felipe Zanartu, Cole Canyon Elementary, Murrieta Valley USD. PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR Jason Marquez, Norte Vista High Alvord USD. CERT ADMIN OF THE YEAR Dr. Kimberly Velez, Assist Superintendent of Educational Support Services, Temecula Valley USD. TEACHERS OF THE YEAR Robert Mauger Corona High Corona-Norco USD; Misty McBee Harvest Hill STEAM Menifee Union SD; Amy Torres Indio High, Desert Sands USD; Amanda Zonker Riverside STEM, Riverside USD. AUDIENCE: District Nominees, Education Community. REGISTRATION: events.rcoe.us/2025-Celebrating-Educators Fee: $45 Additional information: Yadira 951-826-6570 | ychavelas@rcoe.us.
ALT Still time to register! Riverside County 2025 Celebrating Educators Luncheon. Celebrate excellence in education at our annual recognition luncheon, where we honor the outstanding achievements of Riverside County’s educators. This special event brings together the TK–12 education community and valued stakeholders to highlight the dedication and impact of all district nominees for Educators of the Year. Be inspired by the premiere of video profiles showcasing the 2025 Riverside County Educators of the Year, as we come together to recognize those who shape the future of our students and schools. Riverside Convention Center 3637 Fifth Street | Riverside, CA 92501 on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Left swipe arrow for “2025 Educators of the Year”.
Building on 11 years of success, @SICRivCo is thrilled to invite you to the 12th Annual Excellence Through Education Conference. Learn all about the amazing speaker lineup & topics of interest to educators & community members alike at: events.rcoe.us/2025Excellenc… Registration Today!
ALT Wed-Thur, September 24–25, 2025 Palm Springs Convention Center. Excellence Through Education Conference 2025 Illustration “Elevate Our Impact.” Join us for the 12th Annual Excellence Through Education Conference, a premier event designed to empower and equip school districts, sites, and community partners with evidence-based practices to address imbalances within systems, structures, and practices. FEATURED SPEAKERS: Anthony Trucks Former NFL Athlete Turned Motivational Speaker, Author, Identity Shift Coach; Robyn R. Jackson, Ph.D. Founder & CEO of Mindsteps Inc.; Brandon Farbstein Global Empowerment; Alex Sheen Motivational Speaker & Founder of "Because I Said I Would"; Kyle A. Greene Motivational Speaker & Educational Consultant; Robin Avelar La Salle, Ph.D. Founder & President of Orenda Education; Clay Cook, Ph.D. Implementation Scientist and CDO of CharacterStrong. Speaker, Early Bird Registration Now Open through July 18.