Educational Workforce Development
Preparing a New Generation of Teachers and Leaders
SCOE supports schools countywide with information, resources, networking opportunities, and professional development for all types of school employees. We also promote efforts led by community groups, such as arts programs through Creative Sonoma and the Luther Burbank Center, as well as teaching resources. Our Teaching and Learning, North Coast School of Education, and 21st Century School Leadership Academy are among the teams working to build equitable schools that serve and empower all types of students. Some of SCOE’s professional development offerings for 2025-26 have covered:
- Meeting the needs of students from multilingual or migrant households, and connecting families to resources
- Interrupting, questioning, and educating in response to biased speech, racism, discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes
- Increasing the capacity of high schools to support early college credit, internships, work-based learning and career technical education
- Exploring how trauma-informed practices can be integrated to create safe, supportive learning environments where all students feel seen, heard, and valued
- Establishing clear, organized procedures for reunifying students with families in the event of a campus emergency
- Training school support staff to use a range of technical tools to improve their use of artificial intelligence, spreadsheets, and graphic design tools
To support teachers and administrators, SCOE staff follow up with check-ins and classroom visits to help educators and administrators employ the strategies they’ve learned.
North Coast School of Education
Making Credentials Accessible
The North Coast School of Education (NCSOE), housed within SCOE, partners with the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing on several lower-cost programs to make credentials more attainable for aspiring teachers and administrators. The program is committed to equity and removing barriers that can block people from lower-income backgrounds from becoming teachers. Its work seeks to encourage the development of an educational workforce that reflects our region’s rich diversity.
In NCSOE’s two-year Be a Teacher program, interns work as paid classroom instructors during the day and attend credentialing courses outside of school hours. Each intern is paired with a mentor. Costs for Be a Teacher are often partly or fully covered by subsidies, grants, and scholarships.
As schools emphasize career skills along with preparing students for college, career technical education (CTE) teachers are in demand! NCSOE offers several pathways for educators or even people with no teaching experience or bachelor’s degree to earn a credential to teach career skills in specialized areas. Eligible industry sectors include building and construction trades; hospitality, tourism, and recreation; or health science and medical technology, and a dozen others.
A one-year preliminary administrative services credential program equips experienced educators with the skills to become visionary and courageous administrators.
For each credentialing program, NCSOE offers resources and information sessions so that prospective teachers or administrators can familiarize themselves with the programs. Visit ncsoe.org for more information.
Finding and Developing Educational Superstars
Getting Highly Qualified Workers into Our Schools
In addition to making sure SCOE hires, develops, and retains a highly qualified workforce, the Human Resource Services department provides services to Sonoma County’s districts and charters, including: County-level onboarding and background checks for substitute teachers, streamlining their paperwork and facilitating their ability to work across multiple districts • An on-site credentials team that assists educators with credential and permit applications and works to ensure employed teachers hold the proper credentials • Providing resources and networking opportunities for school staff in the aftermath of job cuts • Assisting with recruitment of administrators
Celebrating and Supporting
Our Students and Schools
Recognition Programs, Social Media,
Newsletters, and More
SCOE’s communications team supports Sonoma County’s school districts by sharing information, celebrating hard-working students and school staff, assisting with community events, updating SCOE’s websites and social media pages, and providing information to families, the public and news media. The team also produces this report. The team organizes a Teacher of the Month recognition program, in partnership with local English- and Spanish-language radio stations. To learn more about the program, see past winners, or nominate a favorite teacher, visit scoe.org/teacher.
Find SCOE on social media at
| linkedin.com/company/sonoma-county- office-of-education
Learn more about SCOE’s communications team, social media, and newsletters at scoe.org/communications
A Streamlined, More Accessible Website
Continued Retooling of SCOE.org
Last spring, SCOE streamlined, redesigned, and relaunched its website. Our website features a robust set of translation and accessibility tools, designed to make information more widely available to more people. This summer, we’ll be launching a survey to help better meet the public’s needs. Learn more at scoe.org.