01/15/2020 -
Amanda Snook (right)
Years at SCOE: 3 years
Job Title: Division Support Assistant
How do you describe your job to people outside SCOE? I support the SCOE staff that provides professional development opportunities for educators in Sonoma County. I also provide assistance for student events.
Where did you grow up? Petaluma
Who was your favorite childhood teacher and why? 3rd grade, Mrs. Cook. She was welcoming each and every day and we learned through real-life scenarios. She made things fun!
What is your favorite thing about SCOE? The support of my colleagues, not only in ESS, but throughout the building. Everyone has been kind, supportive and helpful in ways big and small.
What is one of your most memorable moments as a SCOE employee? Having the opportunity to be a part of the Rooster Fellowship, from day one, and seeing the positive impact that the professional development has on the educators and for the students in Sonoma County.
Outside of work, what is your favorite hobby or way to unwind? I love spending time with my two nephews and traveling with my friends.
What is your favorite place in Sonoma County? Marin French Cheese Company. Though it has Marin in the name, it is technically located in Petaluma. Our family has always gone there to enjoy a nice picnic and often celebrate events such as birthdays there. Plus... CHEESE, yum!
----------
Belinda Soto (left)
Years at SCOE: 9 Years
Job Title: Program Specialist Technician III
How do you describe your job to people outside SCOE? I provide administrative support and coordination for the state and federal work that ESS handles. Sometimes this is data entry or communication with CDE, sometimes it's site visit coordination, sometimes it's event planning, and sometimes it's basic clerical support.
Where did you grow up? Windsor
Who was your favorite childhood teacher and why? Mr. Fenderson, best math teacher ever! He made learning fun. He would open up his classroom during lunchtime and would play his guitar for background music while we worked. (Ana Fenderson's late husband)
What is your favorite thing about SCOE? I really enjoy the work that I do. It's different every day. The variety of work that I do has given me the opportunity to connect and work with other departments at SCOE, which has given me new insight into how other departments work and what they do. I also enjoy visiting school sites, meeting with principals and teachers at the beginning of every school year.
What is one of your most memorable moments as a SCOE employee? Being honored with the SCOE Service Award.
Outside of work, what is your favorite hobby or way to unwind? I enjoy spending time with my family, event planning for individuals, businesses, and non-profit groups. I'm a DIY Girl with pretty much everything (furniture, invitations, centerpieces, wedding favors, costumes, props, etc.). A glue gun is my best friend! I also enjoy riding on the wine country back roads with my husband on our Harley Davidson.
What is your favorite place in Sonoma County? I'm a big foodie/restaurant hopper. Anywhere in Sonoma County with good food is where you'll find me. I love to try new restaurants and hang out at my favorite spots.
What might people be surprised to learn about you? I'm a grandmother of three adorable grandsons! Grant School in Healdsburg, is our family’s Home Sweet Home. There are three photos of the school in the SCOE hallway. Growing up, we'd ring the school bell on New Years! At the age of 4 (pushed in a wagon by mom) I participated in a march in the Central Valley led by César Chávez. I'm a consignment store junkie!
----------
Tyler Wilcox (right)
Years at SCOE: 6 months
Job Title: Department Account Coordinator
How do you describe your job to people outside SCOE? I support the SCOE staff with budgeting and accounting work.
Where did you grow up? Petaluma
Who was your favorite childhood teacher and why? Mr. Steadman was a sociology teacher who was engaging and was able to make the subject matter intriguing and fun.
What is your favorite thing about SCOE? The community at SCOE is incredibly supportive and caring. Inside and outside the building are people that come from a place of wanting to help others.
What is one of your most memorable moments as a SCOE employee? Going to visit the Alternative Education school sites that SCOE operates was very memorable. It helped me see how the work I do benefits the kids and community.
Outside of work, what is your favorite hobby or way to unwind? I enjoy brewing beer and cider, playing video games, catching up on films and TV, and hanging out with my three cats and fiancée.
What is your favorite place in Sonoma County? We have so many hidden gems all over the place. Overall I love spending time in Downtown Petaluma.
What might people be surprised to learn about you? I am colorblind.
----------
Connie Anderson (left)
Years at SCOE: 41 years in April 2020
Job Title: Event Planner
How do you describe your job to people outside SCOE? I coordinate Sonoma County’s regional and county spelling bees; manage the Robotics Challenge team registrations and STEAM Showcase project database; support English Learner conferences as well as other professional development opportunities.
Where did you grow up? Santa Rosa
Who was your favorite childhood teacher and why? I didn’t have one favorite, I liked them all!
What is your favorite thing about SCOE? Our service to schools, administrators, teachers, and students, and not always in that order. SCOE has many departments, programs, and staff, in the end, we are here to better the lives of all students.
What is one of your most memorable moments as a SCOE employee? Meeting Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante at the State Capitol. Our team traveled to the Capitol where the Lieutenant Governor recorded a video greeting for the spellers and their family at the California State Elementary Spelling Championship in Sonoma County. Over the years we visited many locations, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Safari West, The Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Chabot Space and Science Center, Buzzard’s Gulch at Cloverleaf. Each location was an educational experience – from science to wildlife to just plain ole fun!
Outside of work, what is your favorite hobby or way to unwind? Since my grandmother’s passing years ago I developed an interest in genealogy and that led to visiting cemeteries. They are filled with interesting monuments, peaceful settings, and many stories. I stumbled on a website that allowed me to follow my passion for photography and genealogy. I have photographed over 60,000 headstones/monuments, featuring the famous to infamous and those in between.
What is your favorite place in Sonoma County? I prefer roads less traveled. Back roads to the coast, or new places to photograph.
What might people be surprised to learn about you? I have a 22-year-old African grey parrot named Gizmo. He mimics everything from words to sounds to complete sentences! He mimics a ringing phone, then says, “hello, okay, all right, bye.” He will mimic a sneeze and then say, “bless you.” People tell me he sounds just like me! He mimics emergency vehicle sirens, the beeping noise from a truck backing up, and he mimics me laughing. I was upstairs one day and a neighbor knocked on my door, Gizmo said, “come in.” When I came downstairs my neighbor was in my house! Now I’m teaching him to say, “who is it?” Some words just aren’t repeatable here. Not sure where he picked those up! (wink)
