CALI CALMECAC CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS were honored by the School of Education in the Multiple Subject Resident Teachers category. Left to right are Aida Diaz, Francisco Flores, Catalina Coello, Ellie Galvez-Hard (SSU faculty) and student teacher Megan Fissel.

K-12 Educators Honored at
Circle of Excellence Awards

The School of Education recognized outstanding teachers and administrators at local K-12 institutions across the Bay Area recently. This was also the inaugural year for awarding the two F. George Elliott Scholarships. The 2007 Circle of Excellence Awards Ceremony took place on Oct. 17 at the University Commons.

Dr. Mary Gendernalik-Cooper, Dean of the School of Education, hosted the ceremony and Dr. Eduardo Ochoa, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, provided welcoming comments, noting the significant contributions of alumni and P-12 professionals to educator preparation programs.

Emerita Professor Martha Rapp-Ruddell, who serves as the executor of the F. George Elliott estate and was his colleague for a number of years, presented the F. George Elliott Scholarships. "The SSU Alumni Association's generous support of the Circle of Excellence Awards is greatly appreciated," says Rapp-Ruddell.

The 2007 Circle of Excellence honorees are:

Special Education Alumni - Eric Tanaka, Pupil Services Center, West
Contra Costa Unified School District
Educational Leadership Alumni - Amy Jones-Kerr, Roseland University
Prep, Roseland School District
Educational Leadership Field Supervisor - Pam Conklin, Pleasant
Valley School, Novato Unified School District
Multiple Subject Resident Teachers - Cali Calmecac Charter School,
Windsor Unified School District
Single Subject "Friend of the Program" - Dennis Harrington, Casa
Grande High School, Petaluma Joint Union High School
Elliott Fellowship for Professional Renewal - Sarah Rapp, Elsie Allen
High School, Santa Rosa City High School
Elliott Scholarship for Outstanding Student Teacher - Jonna Scherer,
Matanzas School, Rincon Valley Union School District

Sarah Rapp and Jonna Scherer with Martha Rapp-Ruddell. Rapp is the Elliott Fellowship for Professional Renewal winner and Scherer is the Elliott
Scholarship for Outstanding Student Teacher.