First 2022 Riverside County Educators of the Year named in surprise visits

A community liaison who works to combat chronic student absences, and an alternative school principal working with students on probation, were surprised with the news on Thursday, March 3, that they had been named the first 2022 Riverside County Educators of the Year by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez.

Attended by colleagues, board members, family members and school/district employees, the surprise visits highlighted Elia Sanchez from the Corona-Norco Unified School District as the Classified Employee of the Year, and Jannette Price from the Riverside County Office of Education as the Principal of the Year. Five additional surprise visits are planned throughout March.

“Our first two 2022 Riverside County Educators of the Year are great examples of innovative educators who are giving their best every day to serve students who face significant barriers in their educational journeys,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Students that might otherwise be labeled as ‘at-risk’ youth are now considered ‘at-promise’ scholars because of the dedication and commitment of educators like Elia Sanchez and Jannette Price.”

Elia Sanchez has worked in public education for 25 years — including the last seven years as a Clerk/Community Liaison at the Corona-Norco Unified School District. In her current position, her main priority is to identify students with attendance challenges and to seek out solutions to ensure they remain on track to graduate. 

To ensure that students don’t fall through the cracks, Mrs. Sanchez utilizes data reports, training sessions with administrators, connecting with parents, and collaborating with educators and outside agencies, to change student behavior and establish a support system aimed at re-engaging them with their education. Mrs. Sanchez will advance to represent Riverside County in the statewide Classified Employee of the Year competition.

“I feel so honored by this award. There is a whole team behind me, and, at the end of the day, it takes a great team to serve students and families,” said Elia Sanchez, moments after being surprised with the news that she is the 2022 Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year. “After 25 years in education, I had an idea of how I wanted to help students, and it has worked out.”

“Elia believes that all students need is a ‘hook’ to get them connected to school, and she is that ‘hook’ to influence students to succeed,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Elia truly emulates what classified employees do for students every day in Riverside County.”

Jannette Price is an alternative education principal for the juvenile court school operated at three locations by the Riverside County Office of Education. Mrs. Price’s role differs from traditional schools with constant student transfers between probation facilities and individualized learning plans as part of the daily collaboration with staff. The development of an effective transition policy for students exiting the system, and the casting of a vision for students beyond their current circumstances, have contributed to a graduation rate for students in Riverside County’s juvenile court school that is the highest in California among schools serving this specialized student population.

“I do this because I love working with kids — especially our court school population. I know that there can be a stigma for some of our students, but I truly fight for them and advocate for them,” said Mrs. Price shortly after being surprised with the news that she is the 2022 Riverside County Principal of the Year. “They have the ability to learn and make the choices and changes in their life and that drives me every single day.”

“Mrs. Price’s vision for her juvenile court school students is based on the understanding that every student has the right and ability to learn with our support, guidance, and knowledge of their unique, individualized educational needs,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “An example of her heart of extraordinary service is that she has the ability to restore the self-confidence and strength of students by helping them prioritize their future over their past.”

The Riverside County Educators of the Year are selected from the more than 36,000 educational employees in the county. The rigorous application process starts with nominations by teachers, classified employees, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where an outside selection committee selects the honorees before the county superintendent announcement.

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