Staff Report
Employees in the Buellton Union School District have been named the county’s Classified School Employees of the Year in three of five categories, placing them in the competition for State Classified Employee of the Year.
The Santa Barbara County Education Office announced the winners at a county board of education meeting on April 5.
Recognized this year were:
- Miguel Garcia (Maintenance, Operations and Facilities category), Oak Valley Elementary and Jonata Middle schools, Buellton Union School District.
- Amber Lishman (Child Nutrition category), Oak Valley Elementary, Buellton Union School District.
- Wendy Solis (Office and Technical category), Oak Valley Elementary, Buellton Union School District.
- John Widle (Support Services and Security category), Delta High School, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.
- Jose Ochoa, Jack Martinez, Tamara Moreno and Christina Morelli (Transportation category), Carpinteria Unified School District.
“Classified employees are essential to the success of our schools,” said Santa Barbara County School Superintendent Susan Salcido.
“Classified employees support our students, schools and communities. We are grateful for their dedication and leadership in meeting the needs of our students across the county,” she said.
Each school district in the county was invited to nominate classified (non-teaching) employees in the five categories. A county committee reviewed the nominations and selected the county’s nominees.
Their award packages will now be forwarded to the state for consideration as the California Classified School Employee of the Year. State winners will be honored in Sacramento later this year.
