SCOE’s Human Resources department serves as a professional resource for districts regarding employment issues and is committed to providing services that help Sonoma County schools meet their human resources needs. Our office houses a regional Beginning Teacher Program and centralized credentialing and fingerprinting to ensure that school employees throughout the county can meet state-mandated employment requirements efficiently and cost-effectively. Other HR services for districts are detailed below.
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Administrator Recruiting Services
SCOE provides an administrator recruiting service for districts seeking principals and school boards seeking candidates to fill superintendent vacancies. By accessing a network of active and former education leaders, we can attract candidates of the highest quality to fill local administrator positions. We work collaboratively with contracting districts throughout the recruitment process to ensure that local needs are met and all stakeholders have input to the process. All administrative details – application processing, placement of advertisements, interview scheduling, reference checking – can be handled by SCOE staff. If a new administrator is selected for a district, SCOE can provide a mentor to ease the transition to this critically important role.
For more information, see our Administrator Recruiting Services brochure (pdf).
Aspiring Administrators Academy
SCOE’s Leadership Center and Human Resources department have collaborated with local districts to design an Aspiring Administrators Academy, which was successfully piloted in 2008-09. This four-seminar series is based on the latest research regarding effective leadership practices and focuses on the most crucial aspects of administrator success in today’s public schools. The Academy consists of engaging seminars, job shadowing experiences, and activities that closely align with the real-world work of principals. Program content is grounded in the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSEL), McREL’s School District Leadership That Works, and the professional preparation program requirements for an administrative services credential.
Beginning Teacher Program
The North Coast Beginning Teacher Program (NCBTP) provides support to new teachers and individuals seeking to become teachers by administering three state-approved and state-funded credential programs leading to beginning teacher success. It is a regional consortium comprised of multiple county offices of education, universities, and school districts in Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Solano, and Sonoma counties. The NCBTP regional office is housed at SCOE.
Credential Monitoring
As required by law, all teachers and other certificated school personnel must register their credentials with their county's county office of education. SCOE operates a credentials office for this purpose and to assist local educators in applying for or renewing credentials. In addition, SCOE works with districts and charter schools to ensure that all employed teachers hold the proper credentials for their position. Training and technical assistance on credentialing issues are available.
Fingerprinting Service
SCOE provides a LiveScan Fingerprinting Service to assist districts in meeting state requirements for security screening of employees. We have also developed model guidelines for fingerprinting school volunteers, established half-price volunteer fingerprinting days, and formed a consortium to ensure more reliable volunteer security checks.
Human Resources Training & Assistance
SCOE supports districts in key personnel matters by hosting quarterly meetings on human resources issues, assisting with reclassification studies, and working one-on-one with district staff on employment issues. Workshops on topics such as employee retirement, credentialing, performance evaluation, recognizing fraudulent identification, and documenting unsatisfactory employee performance are held throughout the school year.
Professional Growth Advisement
SCOE provides free professional growth advisement to teachers holding Professional Clear Credentials who do not have a professional growth advisor in their district.
Substitute Teacher Registration
The Sonoma County Office of Education maintains a centralized substitute teacher database and individuals interested in substitute teaching in Sonoma County must register at SCOE. Applicants must hold a current, valid teaching credential or obtain a substitute permit to become a substitute teacher. A substitute permit authorizes the holder to serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, from preschool to grade 12. This document is valid for one calendar year and must be renewed annually to continue substituting.
Information sessions are held at SCOE to explain the permit process and other requirements for substitute teaching in Sonoma County. Attendance at an information session is mandatory for individuals seeking substitute teaching positions. Please call (707) 524-2681 for session dates and times or to make an appointment to attend. See also our Substitute Teaching resource page.
Staff
- Jeffrey Heller, EdD, Assistant Superintendent
(707) 524-2729,