FRESNO COUNTY – Educators from around Fresno County were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the field and their students by the Fresno County Office of Education.
At the 2025 Educator of the Year Awards on Nov. 20, the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools recognized five award winners, naming this year’s top school employee, administrator, teacher and more. According to a press release, the event was hosted at the William Saroyan Theater in Fresno in partnership with Educational Employees Credit Union.
“Tonight, we celebrated the educators and school employees whose work changes the trajectory of students’ lives,” Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Michele Cantwell-Copher said. “Their commitment and compassion don’t just support learning, they build futures, strengthen families and elevate our entire community.”
Honorees included Vladimar Wells, named School Employee of the Year; Lucio Cortez, named Administrator of the Year; Maritza Ceballos, named Teacher of the Year; Sylvia Armendariz, who received the “Big Things in Small Places” award; and Ron Scott, who received the Barnett Award.
Scott hails from Sanger Unified School District and currently works as the activities director at Sanger High School. In receiving the Barnett Award, Scott demonstrated selfless service that enhances the community. According to a press release from FCOE, Scott works as a liaison between the Sanger community and school activities, fostering an environment that encourages student participation and meaningful community service.
The “Big Things in Small Places” award received by Armendariz, an administrative assistant at Clay Elementary School near Kingsburg, recognized excellence from a smaller school district. At Clay Joint Elementary School District, Armendariz “exemplifies greatness as defined as selfless exceptionalism by living out the school’s vision: one community, one goal,” the press release said.
School Employee of the Year went to Wells, a campus safety assistant at Yosemite Middle School in the Fresno Unified School District. Administrator of the Year was awarded to Cortez, a principal at Laton High School, and Teacher of the Year went to Ceballos, who works as a preschool master teacher at the Lighthouse for Children Child Development Center within FCOE.
School districts submitted nomination packets highlighting their employees in March of this year. A diverse committee conducted an initial review and scoring of the applications, after which the top-ranked nominees advanced to a final selection panel where evaluators casted closed ballots to determine the winners.
School Employee and Teacher of the Year winners will advance to the California Department of Education’s statewide recognition program.
“These outstanding educators should take great pride in their accomplishments and the amazing work they are doing daily to enrich the school experience for all students,” EECU President and CEO Elizabeth J. Dooley said.