Final Three Riverside County Educators of the Year Include Inaugural School Counselor of the Year

MORENO VALLEY >> A high school counselor, a teacher on special assignment, and a human resources associate superintendent were named Riverside County Educators of the Year after surprise visits from Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Kenneth M. Young, on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The final three educators of the year, along with the four honorees announced last week and four teachers of the year named last June, will be recognized at the Celebrating Educators Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10, at the Riverside Convention Center. In the main lobby of Rancho Verde High School (Val Verde Unified School District), the first-ever Riverside County School Counselor of the Year award was presented to Robin Ellison. Ms. Ellison, a resident of Riverside, has served as a counselor at Rancho Verde High School for eight years. During her tenure as head counselor, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications went up by 25% in one year and A-G completion rates reached 99%. Her principal, Ross Godfrey, shared that “one of the greatest assets that Robin brings to our guidance department is her passion to always learn new things and keep up to date with current trends.” A round of applause erupted from students gathered in the school’s theater after Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Kenneth M. Young, said “The new award recognizes the outstanding work of counselors across the county and Mrs. Ellison has the honor of going directly to a national competition.” “First of all, I want to thank my students here today,” a surprised Mrs. Ellison said to the assembled students in the school’s theater. “Without you, I am nothing. It is an honor and privilege to serve you.” The final 2016 Riverside County Educator of the Year surprise announcements were made in the district offices of Palm Springs Unified School District. Erik Mickelson, a teacher on special assignment, was named the Site Support Employee of the Year. Mr. Mickelson, a Palm Springs resident, leads the district’s efforts in Gifted And Talented Education (GATE), Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Linked Learning, and Career and Technical Education (CTE). He has served in his current position for ten years where he also leads professional development for teachers that range from organizational, instructional, and curricular strategies to social, emotional, and affective needs of students. A teacher in the district described Mr. Mickelson’s excitement and enthusiasm for what he does as “contagious”. “I feel like I’ve been really lucky to be in this district, first as a teacher and then in the district office, and I have loved working as a teacher on assignment,” said Mr. Mickelson. “All I can say is thank you to the people I have had a chance to work with.” Also at the district office of Palm Springs Unified, Mauricio Arellano, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, was named as the Certificated Administrator of the Year. During his 13 years in his current position, Mr. Arellano has implemented a uniform system to conduct interviews and reference checks to ensure the quality of teachers being hired is calibrated across the district. A resident of Cathedral City, Mr. Arellano was described by a colleague as “a natural leader of the most powerful kind…he builds personal relationships, leads by doing, brings others along with him and rewards everyone’s effort.” “It’s the people behind me. That’s who earned this award, not me. I stand on the shoulders of giants,” said Mr. Arellano as he pointed to the colleagues gathered in the hallway outside his office. “I am very honored to represent the district and thank you for this recognition. It’s very humbling.” “Honoring these two employees is an overall reflection on the wonderful things going on in Palm Springs Unified and the great things going on across our county,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Kenneth M. Young, after surprising both employees at Palm Springs Unified School District headquarters. The 2016 Riverside County Educators of the Year are as follows: • Classified Administrator of the Year: Evita Tapia-Gonzalez, Communications Manager, Corona-Norco Unified School District • Confidential Employee of the Year: Regina Castellano, Administrative Assistant, Moreno Valley Unified School District • Classified Employee of the Year: Katie Chapman, Assistant to the Director, Alvord Unified School District • Principal of the Year: Marc Horton, Principal, Temecula Valley Unified School District • School Counselor of the Year (New Award for 2016): Robin Ellison, Counselor, Val Verde Unified School District • Site Support Employee of the Year: Erik Mickelson, Teacher on Special Assignment, Palm Springs Unified School District • Certificated Administrator of the Year: Mauricio Arellano, Assistant Superintendent, Palm Springs Unified School District Educators of the year are selected by a committee comprised of Riverside County educators—including former honorees—that review nominations, letters of recommendation, and other criteria. Committee members also conduct selected site visits and interviews as part of the awards process.