Employee Recognition
On June 11, 2026, the 2026 Employee of the Year honorees, the Milo P. Johnson Award of Distinction honoree, Years of Service recipients, and Retirees were all recognized at the 2026 Employee Recognition event.
Meet the 2026 RCOE Employees of the Year
Watch our Employees of the Year answer the questions below.
Confidential Employee of the Year
Deborah Sofia
Administrative Assistant to the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools
Office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools
Deborah Sofia is known for her professionalism and dedication as an Administrative Assistant to the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.
Whether coordinating logistics, supporting cross-department efforts, or assisting with confidential projects, Deborah approaches every responsibility with a willingness to support others.
Her involvement in professional development opportunities, team meetings, and organizational events contributes to the overall effectiveness of the division. Deborah treats everyone she works with with genuine care and respect.
Classified Employee of the Year
Nancy Delgado
Director's Secretary
Division of Educational Services
Nancy’s attention to detail and ability to stay ahead of needs can be seen throughout the Riverside County Esports Symposium, community expos, and student showcases.
She is known for bringing people together and strengthening communication across departments. Her positive attitude helps teams navigate demanding projects while reminding others that “we can make this happen.”
Nancy takes pride in creating meaningful experiences for others and reflects RCOE’s commitment to student success.
Classified Administrator of the Year
Lindsay Gleason
Director I
Division of Administration and Business Services
Lindsay Gleason is a respected leader whose steady presence and thoughtful leadership have made her an important part of RCOE.
As Director of District Fiscal Services, she oversees the Accounting, Fiscal Oversight, and Payroll and Retirement units, supporting the financial and operational needs of 47 LEAs across Riverside County. Her ability to guide others through stressful situations helps strengthen both her team and the department.
Lindsay’s support for others extends far beyond her role. She is known for stepping in when needed and being a reliable resource for colleagues across the organization.
Certificated Administrator of the Year
Ronnie Henderson, Ed.D.
Director II
Division of Educational Services
Dr. Ronnie Henderson is known for his thoughtful leadership and people-first approach. As Director II of the Center for Administrator Preparation, he leads with humility and encourages others to continue growing and doing their best work.
Through his knowledge of state standards and leadership experience, he has strengthened relationships with districts and helped develop solutions that prepare educational leaders to serve with confidence and purpose.
Beyond his department, Dr. Henderson is respected for his collaborative spirit and willingness to help wherever needed. From supporting and mentoring future leaders, he consistently places the success of others first.
Teacher of the Year
Keasha Russell, DAT
Instructor, Sports Medicine
Division of Student Programs and Services
Dr. Keasha Russell is an educator who leads with authenticity and purpose. She believes teaching goes beyond academics and works to create a classroom environment where students understand that failure is not final.
Her approach helps students rebuild confidence and recognize that their past does not define their future. By sharing her own experiences, she reminds students that growth continues throughout life.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Russell serves as an athletic trainer and works closely with student-athletes while creating externship opportunities for sports medicine students. Both roles reflect her commitment to supporting students academically, emotionally, and physically.
Milo P. Johnson Award of Distinction
Alicia Rivera
Executive Director’s Secretary
Division of Early Education Services
Alicia Rivera is a service-driven professional who is often described as someone who does not have the word “no” in her vocabulary. As Executive Director’s Secretary in the divison of Early Education Services, she supports complex operations across six offices in five regions.
Her work supports the delivery of child care services for families throughout Riverside County. Whether working virtually or traveling between office locations, Alicia approaches every interaction with compassion and care.
Alicia’s knowledge of RCOE systems allows her to anticipate needs and help operations continue smoothly during high-pressure situations. Her ability to adapt during technological challenges and coordinate communication across multiple sites reflects her strong work ethic and problem-solving skills.
Years of Service
Agueda Aceves, EES
Elizabeth Alvarado, LWSS
Olga Andrade, SPS
Katie Aulakh, PS
Roxanne Barba, EES
Anel Benitez, EES
Parul Bhakta, ABS
Marcelina Buenrostro, ABS
Diane Butters, SPS
Rebecca Calsing, SPS
Daniel Choe, SPS
Claudia Cisneros, SPS
Yvonne Cortez, ABS
Veronica Cruz, SPS
Suzanne Cuccio, SPS
Priscilla Dade, EES
Marisela Davalos-Agudo, EES
Liliana De Rueda, EES
Paul Emerick, SPS
Leticia Estrada, EES
Irma Felix, EES
Jenny Fitzpatrick, ABS
Samantha Franco, SPS
Rocio Garcia, EES
Crystal Gastelum, EES
Anabel Gonzalez, ABS
Antonio Gonzalez, ABS
Elizabeth C. Gonzalez, PS
Elizabeth P. Gonzalez, SPS
Lisa Gonzalez, SPS
Melinda Gruber, ORCSS
Denisse Guerrero Arreola, EES
Ana Guevara, EES
Allan Hallis, ES
Heather Hargraves, SPS
Patrick Healy, SPS
Leticia Hernandez, SPS
Amy Johnson, SPS
Arthur Kimball, SPS
Allison Klecker, SPS
Martha Kunze, EES
Elise Lara, SPS
Cindy Leedy, SPS
Yesenia Lepe Aguilar, SPS
Corey Loomis, LWSS
Viridiana Lopez, EES
Juanita Lorenzo, ABS
Teresa Luis, SPS
Evelyn Magana, EES
Wendy Maldonado, EES
Jose Mejia Salazar, EES
Armando Mendez, SPS
Mariel Mendez, SPS
Gabriela Mendoza, EES
Raquel Miranda, EES
Patricia Morales, SPSf
Matthew Mortimer, SPS
Eric Mugica, SPS
Lupe Nava De Leon, EES
Carolina Olvera De Sanchez, EES
Brigette Ortega, SPS
Jorgo Papa, ABS
Carla Peraza, EES
Jocelyn Porras, EES
Itzchell Ramirez, EES
Laura Ramirez, EES
Patti Redway, ABS
Evangelina Reyes, EES
Alejandra Rios, SPS
Darleen Robinette, SPS
Kristal Robinson, SPS
Juan Rodelo, ABS
Rosamaria Rodriguez, EES
Tiffany Rodriguez, EES
Lisa Rosas, SPS
Deborah Santa, SPS
Maria Sarabia-Ponce, LWSS
Alejandra Seaman, EES
Michelle Shaddy, SPS
Mary Shaw-Williams, LWSS
Erica Showalter, SPS
Corinne Slocum, SPS
Mark Smaw Jr., SPS
Katie Smith, ES
Michael Stribling, ABS
Charles Suarez, ABS
Maria Trejo, SPS
Jeffrey Vaca, GR
Eric Vargas, SPS
Ruth Verduzco, EES
Sharon Walborn, ABS
Tamara Wentworth, SPS
Teresa Wolf, SPS
Rhonda Arendt, SPS
Melissa Bazanos Hutton, PS
Richard Butler II, ABS
Tammy Danover, SPS
Stefanie Dowell, SPS
Megan Evers, SPS
Ashley Falsetto, SPS
Claudia Figueroa-Nava, EES
Blanca Garcia, EES
Debbie Gomez, SPS
Maria Haro, SPS
Maria Hernandez, EES
Daisy Macias, SPS
Julie McHam, ABS
Saray Orozco, SPS
Kameia Poindexter, SPS
Michelle Robles, EES
Elizabeth Romero, RCBE
Boris Sanchez, EES
Erica Sandoval, SPS
Yamileth Shimojyo, ES
Dena Slocum, SPS
Breon Stell, SPS
James Sutton, SPS
Kathleen Thompson, SPS
Denise Zurn, SPS
Raquel Alvarado, EES
Victoria Bacon, EES
Lupita Becerra, EES
Georgana Bell, EES
Araceli Beltran, SPS
Louvie Benitez-Taitano, SPS
Karrie Carlson, SPS
Pamela Cochennet, SPS
Nereida Cossio, EES
Michael D’Amico, ABS
Raquel Eisner, EES
Carol Fuentes, SPS
Patricia Galvez, LWSS
Rosel Gonzales, ABS
Maribelle Gonzalez, PS
Silvia Gonzalez, EES
Gustavo Gutierrez, ABS
Bernard Holmes, ABS
Judith Jimenez, EES
Carrie-Ann Jorgensen, SPS
Mary Kay Kelley, ABS
Bertha Magdaleno, EES
Farah Martin Del Campo, EES
Norma Martinez, ES
Leslie Nelson, EES
Diem-Han Nunez, EES
Reyna Philp, ABS
Martin Ramirez, SPS
Leticia Romo, SPS
Michael Ruiz, SPS
Brenda Saldana, SPS
Norma Santiesteban, EES
Angel Van Horn, ES
Heriberto Villa Perea, SPS
Sandra Wellen, SPS
Roy Abshire, ABS
Carmen Arizaga, EES
Angelica Basquez, LWSS
Manuel Bravo, ABS
Jennifer Calkins, SPS
Tanya Chagolla, SPS
Julie Christine, SPS
Daniel Dike, SPS
James Eisenhower Jr., SPS
Monica Escalera, EES
Paul Gamboa, EES
Jamal Gerren, SPS
Robert Gwynne Jr., ABS
Peter Hargraves, SPS
Maria Hernandez, EES
Sean Johnson, ABS
Brenda Kelley, EES
Philip Kornblum, ABS
Billie Leland, ABS
Karin Marquez, EES
Karla Mora, EES
Delia Moreo, SPS
Norma Nava, SPS
Heidi Perales, SPS
April Ramos, ABS
Alejandrina Rodriguez, SPS
Robin Rozzana, PS
Serjio Saldana, SPS
Gabriela Sanchez, EES
Michelle Sanchez, ES
Sandra Seefeldt, SPS
Susan Sheehan, SPS
Ronald Sissons, ABS
Michelle Tapia, SPS
Nicholas Vega, ABS
Silvia Garcia, EES
Jill Johnson, EES
Maybelle Lebbie, SPS
Ismelda Ortega, SPS
Lorraine Reyes, EES
Sonia Sanchez, ES
Esmirna Valencia, LWSS
Esmeralda Veik, SPS
35, 40, and 45 Years of Service
35 Years of Service
Lisa Ortega, SPS
Dana Smith, ABS
40 Years of Service
Deborah Perez, SPS
Cynthia Young, ORCSS
45 Years of Service
Pattie Pollock-Hinojos
Retirees
Sandra Adolph, LWSS
24 Years of Service
Malcolm Anderson, SPS
17 Years of Service
Marcella Avila, ABS
9 Years of Service
Yvonne Bailey, EES
7 Years of Service
Roberto Castillo, EES
22 Years of Service
Juliet Comaduran, EES
7 Years of Service
Michael D'Amico, ABS
20 Years of Service
Frances Davenport, ABS
11 Years of Service
Christiane Deaton, SPS
28 Years of Service
Richard D'Souza, ORCSS
29 Years of Service
Michelle Eliasfarny, SPS
28 Years of Service
Leticia Gaeta, EES
24 Years of Service
Gena Gammon, SPS
26 Years of Service
Timothy Garcia, SPS
7 Years of Service
Katherine Gentilucci, SPS
6 Years of Service
Ramona Godfrey, SPS
19 Years of Service
Gilda Gonzalez, EES
26 Years of Service
Jacklynn Guess, SPS
22 Years of Service
Gloria Harrington, EES
21 Years of Service
Lori Hepler, ABS
28 Years of Service
Louisa Higgins, ES
6 Years of Service
Oranda James-Tatum, SPS
18 Years of Service
Renee Kapsner, EES
28 Years of Service
Jodi LaChance, SPS
11 Years of Service
Nancy Leon, EES
23 Years of Service
Sheryl Martin, EES
29 Years of Service
Rebecca Martinez, ABS
31 Years of Service
Molly McCabe, ES
21 Years of Service
Rosemary Montano, EES
27 Years of Service
Beatriz Moreno, EES
18 Years of Service
Delia Moreo, SPS
25 Years of Service
Marjorie Nolasco, SPS
13 Years of Service
Elva Pacheco, EES
24 Years of Service
Sandra Penaloza, SPS
9 Years of Service
Deborah Perez, SPS
40 Years of Service
Clementina Perez-Nava, SPS
32 Years of Service
Pattie Pollock-Hinojos, SPS
45 Years of Service
Mary Rice, EES
21 Years of Service
David Richer, SPS
12 Years of Service
Lesa Richer, SPS
8 Years of Service
Stacy Rogers, SPS
8 Years of Service
Beverly Slusher, SPS
21 Years of Service
Tamara Smith, SPS
17 Years of Service
Deborah Sofia, ORCSS
11 Years of Service
Juanita Sorian, EES
25 Years of Service
Barbara Sorter, SPS
13 Years of Service
Deborah Stayton, SPS
21 Years of Service
Linda Thesier, SPS
30 Years of Service
Brinetta Thomas Staples, SPS
14 Years of Service
Jeffrey Vaca, GR
10 Years of Service
Tauni Vance, ES
11 Years of Service
Maria Villanueva, SPS
43 Years of Service
Cynthia Young, ORCSS
40 Years of Service
2026 Employee Recognition Gallery
