Instructional Aide, Associate Principal and Math Teacher honored at the 2026 Merced County Excellence in Education Awards

The 2026 Merced County Excellence in Education Awards, hosted by the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) and Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU), celebrated educators and school employees from across the county on Oct. 1, where the county winners for school employee, administrator and teacher of the year were also announced.
 
Instructional Aide Ysabel Espinosa from the El Nido Elementary School District was named School Employee of the Year; Associate Principal Elizabeth Phonesavanh from the Merced Union High School District was named School Administrator of the Year; and Math Teacher Ronalee Johnson from the Atwater Elementary School District was awarded the Teacher of the Year title.
 
The ceremony, led by Master of Ceremonies and MCOE Board Trustee Ryan Heller, showcased video vignettes that highlighted the work of county winners Espinosa, Phonesavanh and Johnson and recognized all 23 district honorees. Video vignettes were produced by Merced Educational Television (METV).
 
Espinosa, Phonesavanh and Johnson were each invited to the stage to share remarks. 
Merced County Superintendent of School Dr. Steve Tietjen and EECU CEO Elizabeth Dooley both praised the honorees and winners for their contributions to their school communities and the importance of recognizing educational professionals. During the ceremony, EECU also presented Dr. Tietjen with a plaque in recognition of his leadership and 40 years of service to education. Tietjen announced last fall that he will retire at the end of his current term, which ends this December.
 
Applications for the Excellence in Education awards program are open to all Merced County school districts and the selection committee is made up of community members. As the county winners for teacher and school employee of the year, Espinosa and Johnson are now eligible to apply for the teacher and school employee state awards programs. 
 
The 2026 Excellence in Education video vignettes and event program can be found at www.mcoe.org/eie.
 
 
Full list of the 2026 Merced County district honorees and winners: 
*Merced County Excellence in Education Winner
 
EMPLOYEES:
Atwater Elementary School District – Marycela Renteria
Delhi Unified School District – Tony Caballero
Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District – Chad Eyo
*El Nido Elementary School District – Ysabel Espinosa
Gustine Unified School District – Joanna Martinez
McSwain Union Elementary School District – Shavonne Wielandt
Merced City School District – Jeremy Spangler
Merced County Office of Education – Ashley Farmer
Merced Union High School District - Pahoua Lee
 
ADMINISTRATORS:
Atwater Elementary School District – Laurie Havel
Delhi Unified School District – Michael Phillips
Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District – Rhonda Sullivan
El Nido Elementary School District – Paula Heupel
McSwain Union Elementary School District – Mark Gasaway
Merced City School District – Jose Munoz
Merced County Office of Education – Monica Sevilla
*Merced Union High School District – Elizabeth Phonesavanh
 
TEACHERS:
*Atwater Elementary School District – Ronalee Johnson
Delhi Unified School District – Dina Brindeiro
Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District – Anel Guereca
Gustine Unified School District – Yaneli Ledezma
McSwain Union Elementary School District – Nora Peña
Merced City School District – Savannah Ramirez
Merced County Office of Education – Tisha McParland
Merced Union High School District – Anel Ochoa
Weaver Union School District – Jamie Hillhouse