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2016 FCUSD Teacher and Employees of the Year Announced
Click here to see pictures of this event
This year’s winners were honored at the District’s annual Employee Recognition Ceremony on May 4, which also celebrated FCUSD’s longest-serving staff members and new retirees. Below are this year’s District honorees, in alphabetical order:
Teacher of the Year: Debbie Andrus, Cordova High School
As a teacher, Debbie Andrus has one goal: student success.
Andrus joined the Folsom Cordova family in 2003, serving in a variety of positions and becoming a Mills Middle School teacher in 2007. She chose to try a new challenge and transferred to Cordova High School in 2014. She is described by her colleagues as enthusiastic, exuberant, a Google queen, technology trainer, organizer, mentor, division leader, and department chair. She is also known as “the person who gets things done”.
Furthermore, Andrus takes extra duties whenever it is needed with no complaint, helping in all aspects of school life, such as: science fairs; History Days; clubs; yearbook; web-based programs; site tech support, such as moving the entire CHS campus to use Google docs and forms; and more. She has the leadership skills to carry through all the challenges and duties presented to her.
The tech-savvy teacher has an up-to-date website that allows students and parents easy access to classroom information, something that is paramount to student success. Her students take quizzes by scanning QR codes and access their tests in their phones or on Chromebooks.
“Out of nowhere, I inherited these kiddos and call them mine,” said Andrus. “I truly worry about them and wish the best for each one that comes through my doors. I cry with them, I laugh with them and celebrate their accomplishments with all my heart. This is why I have chosen to be a teacher. A teacher I am and a teacher I will forever be! There is great satisfaction knowing I helped a young person grow and mature, and along the way I helped to teach them life skills.”
Classified Employee of the Year: Bess Laliberte, Folsom Middle School
Before coming to Folsom Cordova, Laliberte received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
From 1996 to 2003, she served as a substitute teacher in our District. In 2006, she became a special education instructional aide, a position which she held for 8 years. She joined the office staff at Folsom Middle School in 2014, where Principal John Bliss said of her, “She is an incredible asset to the office. We are so lucky to have her on our team. Our school would be lost without her.”
Laliberte is fast learner and strives for excellence in every facet of the job. She has an amazing sense of humor and cares about the students, especially those with attendance problems. She is gracious with parents regardless the situation.
District Administrator of the Year: Jon Wallace
Wallace has a long career in teaching and administration, working in the Rescue, Davis and Folsom Cordova School districts. She joined in Folsom Cordova in 1988 for a position at Rancho Cordova, then, went to Carl Sundahl in 1989. She has been an administrator at two sites: Folsom Hills, where she started the Foreign Language Magnet Program; and at Cordova Villa, where she and her staff continuously raised test scores year, after year.
For the past three years, Wallace has served as Director of School Improvement, after previously serving as Director of Categorical Programs.
Wallace was born in Kansas, but she grew up in England and loves to travel. She is a good listener and reserved, but when she speaks her mind it’s worth the wait. She loves Southern cooking, particularly the smoky meats. She is a consummate professional, and acknowledges people’s gifts and ideas.
Congratulations to all three of our wonderful FCUSD Teacher and Employees of the Year Winners!
This year’s winners were honored at the District’s annual Employee Recognition Ceremony on May 4, which also celebrated FCUSD’s longest-serving staff members and new retirees. Below are this year’s District honorees, in alphabetical order:
Teacher of the Year: Debbie Andrus, Cordova High School
As a teacher, Debbie Andrus has one goal: student success.
Andrus joined the Folsom Cordova family in 2003, serving in a variety of positions and becoming a Mills Middle School teacher in 2007. She chose to try a new challenge and transferred to Cordova High School in 2014. She is described by her colleagues as enthusiastic, exuberant, a Google queen, technology trainer, organizer, mentor, division leader, and department chair. She is also known as “the person who gets things done”.
Furthermore, Andrus takes extra duties whenever it is needed with no complaint, helping in all aspects of school life, such as: science fairs; History Days; clubs; yearbook; web-based programs; site tech support, such as moving the entire CHS campus to use Google docs and forms; and more. She has the leadership skills to carry through all the challenges and duties presented to her.
The tech-savvy teacher has an up-to-date website that allows students and parents easy access to classroom information, something that is paramount to student success. Her students take quizzes by scanning QR codes and access their tests in their phones or on Chromebooks.
“Out of nowhere, I inherited these kiddos and call them mine,” said Andrus. “I truly worry about them and wish the best for each one that comes through my doors. I cry with them, I laugh with them and celebrate their accomplishments with all my heart. This is why I have chosen to be a teacher. A teacher I am and a teacher I will forever be! There is great satisfaction knowing I helped a young person grow and mature, and along the way I helped to teach them life skills.”
Classified Employee of the Year: Bess Laliberte, Folsom Middle School
Before coming to Folsom Cordova, Laliberte received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
From 1996 to 2003, she served as a substitute teacher in our District. In 2006, she became a special education instructional aide, a position which she held for 8 years. She joined the office staff at Folsom Middle School in 2014, where Principal John Bliss said of her, “She is an incredible asset to the office. We are so lucky to have her on our team. Our school would be lost without her.”
Laliberte is fast learner and strives for excellence in every facet of the job. She has an amazing sense of humor and cares about the students, especially those with attendance problems. She is gracious with parents regardless the situation.
District Administrator of the Year: Jon Wallace
Wallace has a long career in teaching and administration, working in the Rescue, Davis and Folsom Cordova School districts. She joined in Folsom Cordova in 1988 for a position at Rancho Cordova, then, went to Carl Sundahl in 1989. She has been an administrator at two sites: Folsom Hills, where she started the Foreign Language Magnet Program; and at Cordova Villa, where she and her staff continuously raised test scores year, after year.
For the past three years, Wallace has served as Director of School Improvement, after previously serving as Director of Categorical Programs.
Wallace was born in Kansas, but she grew up in England and loves to travel. She is a good listener and reserved, but when she speaks her mind it’s worth the wait. She loves Southern cooking, particularly the smoky meats. She is a consummate professional, and acknowledges people’s gifts and ideas.
Congratulations to all three of our wonderful FCUSD Teacher and Employees of the Year Winners!