HEMET – In a meeting room at the Hemet Unified School District main office, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, gathered with Hemet Unified School District Superintendent (HUSD), Dr. Christi Barrett, several HUSD leaders, and Michael Sattley's wife and eagerly waited. Their purpose: to surprise Michael during what he thought was a routine cabinet meeting. Little did he know, they were about to announce that he had been named 2024 Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year.

“Michael’s dedication to improving schools at HUSD reflects a profound commitment to creating an optimal learning environment for all students,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “He actively involves students, staff, and community members, in the improvement process fostering a sense of ownership and pride in school facilities.”

“I can’t do what I do without the support of an amazing team,” said Michael Sattley immediately following the surprise. “The support here and the amazing support I have at home allow me to do this important work.”

About Michael Sattley – 2024 Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year

Michael Sattley believes that students who are comfortable at school can be inspired to learn, collaborate, participate, share, grow, develop their talents, and expand into their fullest potential. To activate this belief, as the Director of Facilities Services at Hemet Unified School District, Michael has focused on transforming older schools to be more equitable with newer, more current ones. Modernizing new facilities includes reviewing, editing, and adjusting after visiting campuses to interview principals, teachers, students, and the community. On those campus visits, Michael seeks to help students and staff experience construction projects as more than a noisy inconvenience, but, instead, as real-world STEM examples and a beacon of hope, future, learning, friendship, and unity. Colleagues describe Michael’s approach as that of a “true educator” whose versatility and vision can be seen in developing state-of-the-art educational facilities spanning “from farms to water distribution simulations, theater modernization, medical clinics, automotive shops, makerspaces, and a cutting-edge welding facility.”

Four additional surprise visits are planned throughout February. All honorees will be recognized at the 2024 Celebrating Educators Luncheon set for May 7, at the Riverside Convention Center.

The full list of categories and honorees for the 2024 Riverside County Educators of the Year:

• Riverside County School Counselor of the Year

  Gabriella S. Zlaket, School Counselor
  Arlington High School, Riverside Unified School District
  Press Release 2/6/2024:
  First 2024 Riverside County Educator of the Year Named in Surprise Visit in Riverside Unified School District
  

• Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year
  

  Michelle Forcina, Secretary III
  Canyon Springs High School, Moreno Valley Unified School District
  Press Release 2/9/2024:
  2024 Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year Named in Surprise Visit in Moreno Valley Unified School District

• Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year
  

  Michael Sattley, Director of Facilities Services
  Hemet Unified School District

• Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year – TBD in February 2024
• Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year – TBD in February 2024
• Riverside County Principal of the Year – TBD in February 2024
• Riverside County Confidential Employee of the Year – TBD in February 2024

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.

Along with the 2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year named previously, all 2024 Riverside County Educators of the Year will be honored at the Celebrating Educators Luncheon, set for Tuesday, May 7, at the Riverside Convention Center.

Clarification: The 2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year were named in mid-2023 to align with the 2023 California State Teacher of the Year competition. The 2025 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be announced in May/June of 2024 and will via for the 2025 California State Teacher of the Year award that will be named in the fall of 2024 by the California Department of Education and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond.

2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year (named in mid-2023)

Marie Stevenson
Mathematics Teacher
Rancho Mirage High School
Palm Springs USD

James Waedekin
English Teacher
New Horizon School
Banning USD

Lindsay Hill
4^th Grade Teacher
Sundance Elementary School
Beaumont USD

Lorena Morales
Mathematics/AVID Teacher
La Sierra High School
Alvord USD