Arts Teacher, Principal and Lead Custodian Honored at the 2024 Excellence in Education Awards
- Award Recognitions
MCOE and Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) honored nearly 30 employees, teachers and administrators from across Merced County during the 2024 Excellence in Education awards ceremony on Oct. 3. The annual awards program also revealed this year's the school employee, school administrator and teacher of the year.
Golden Valley High School Theatre and Arts Teacher Amber Kirby from the Merced Union High School District was selected as Teacher of the Year; Lead Custodian Octavio Ugalde from the Merced City School District was selected as School Employee of the Year; and Bryant Middle School Principal Dana Reyes from the Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District was selected as School Administrator of the Year.
Lead by Master of Ceremonies Paul Loeffler, the event recognized all 28 honorees and featured video presentations produced by Merced Educational Television (METV). The videos highlighted the three county winners and the positive impact they make within their school communities. Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen and EECU CEO Elizabeth Dooley both shared their praises to the honorees and winners for their contributions to education.
The Excellence in Education program, which celebrates its 20th year in 2025, is open to school districts across Merced County. The winners of Teacher of the Year and School Employee of the Year are eligible to apply for the state awards program.