RIVERSIDE – A principal in Hemet, administrators in Riverside and San Jacinto, an administrative assistant at the county office of education, and a school psychologist in Val Verde Unified, were among the first round of Educator of the Year announcements made this week by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White.
The five surprise announcements took place in the work locations of each honoree—often surrounded by friends, family, and congratulatory colleagues. Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White, will conduct a total of seven surprise visits to honor the top educators who serve 430,000 students in the county. The final 2019 Riverside County Educator of the Year surprise announcements (School Counselor of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year) will take place during the week of February 18.
“These seven outstanding professionals represent the best and brightest in the field of education,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White. “It is a privilege to honor them for serving our students in Riverside County.”
The full list of categories and honorees for the 2019 Riverside County Educators of the Year is as follows:
Riverside County School Counselor of the Year – TBD week of February 18
Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year – TBD week of February 18
![Catherine Belcher with her family and administrators](https://www.rcoe.us/newsroom/files/2019/02/2019-EOY-CatherineBelcher-300x177.jpg)
Riverside County Confidential Employee of the Year
Catherine Belcher
Administrative Assistant, Student Programs & Services
Riverside County Office of Education
Catherine has worked alongside peers, district staff, community partners, and representatives from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office to bring forth new and innovative ideas to help reduce chronic absenteeism in Riverside County.
![Dawnyelle holds flowers and certificate standing with colleagues](https://www.rcoe.us/newsroom/files/2019/02/2019-EOY-DawnyelleDeLongchamp-300x207.jpg)
Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year
Dawnyelle DeLongchamp
District Psychologist
Val Verde Unified School District
Dawnyelle was instrumental in the development of Val Verde’s preschool assessment team and multi-tiered systems of support. Her leadership is vital in collaborating with community agencies, families, and district staff.
![Dr. Flavin holds a certificate standing with colleagues](https://www.rcoe.us/newsroom/files/2019/02/2019-EOY-ColleenFlavin-300x202.jpg)
Riverside County Principal of the Year
Dr. Colleen Flavin
Principal, Cawston Elementary School
Hemet Unified School District
Principal Flavin’s leadership vision is simple: a relentless pursuit to build capacity in others. In her words, “Building capacity in others in simple terms can be described as working myself out of a job.”
![Dr. Raffiee embraces colleagues](https://www.rcoe.us/newsroom/files/2019/02/2019-EOY-SharonRaffiee-300x222.jpg)
Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year
Dr. Sharon A. Raffiee
Executive Director, Personnel Services
San Jacinto Unified School District
The New Teacher Academy, developed under Sharon’s leadership, has shown substantial benefits for the District through the improved performance and retention of new teachers. Three year data show a reduction in separation rate from 22% to 4%.
![Reggie holds certificate posing with administrators](https://www.rcoe.us/newsroom/files/2019/02/2019-EOY-ReginaldRoyster-300x188.jpg)
Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year
Reginald James Royster
Assistant Director, Mechanical and Communication Trades
Riverside Unified School District
Reginald has served as a mentor at J.W. North High school for the last 10 years. The students that he mentors are juniors and he takes pride that several of his trade team members have also become mentors.
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 announces the honorees.
Along with the 2019 Riverside County Teachers of the Year, the Educators of the Year will be honored at the Riverside County Celebrating Educators Luncheon at the Riverside Convention Center on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.
Clarification: The 2019 Teachers of the Year were named in mid-2018 to align with the 2019 California State Teacher of the Year competition. The 2020 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be announced in May/June of 2019.