Classified School Employees of the Year

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) invites all Orange County school districts to submit nominations for the Classified School Employee of the Year (CSEY) program based on guidelines and timelines established by the California Department of Education. The goal of the program is to recognize the professional efforts of exemplary classified employees.

For information, please contact your school district's CSEY coordinator.

Kristin Rigby

Coordinator
(714) 966-4435
krigby@ocde.us

Alicia Gonzalez

Sr. Administrative Assistant
(714) 966-4435
aliciagonzalez@ocde.us

Honorees

Congratulations to the 2026 Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year!

Learn more about our finalists

List of all 2026 Classified School Employee of the Year nominees

A smiling man in a patterned shirt is set against a dark, mottled background.

Fidel Jacobo Ayala

Lead Food Services Worker
Food and Nutrition Services
Ocean View School District

A man in a suit and tie smiles at the camera with a mottled blue background behind him.

Jose Bueno

Bus Driver
Transportation Services
Fountain Valley School District

A smiling man with a beard in a denim shirt is set against a blue gradient background.

Paul Dalmas

Electrician
Skilled Trade Services
Garden Grove Unified School District

A smiling woman with glasses and a floral shirt is pictured against a mottled blue background.

Deborah Guevara

Student Supervision Assistant
Security Services
Garden Grove Unified School District

A man with a mustache smiles at the camera in the foreground, with a blue, mottled background behind him.

Memo Gutierrez

Custodian
Custodial and Maintenance Services
Orange Unified School District

A smiling woman with braided hair and a pink patterned cardigan is pictured against a blue, mottled background.

Donna Irumumdomon

Licensed Vocational Nurse
Health and Student Services
Orange County Department of Education

A middle-aged man with graying hair and a beard, wearing a blue and white checkered shirt, is pictured against a mottled blue background.

Jagath Jayarante

Computer Technician II
Technical Services
Fullerton School District

A young woman with long dark hair smiles at the camera, wearing a black blazer over a white shirt, against a mottled blue background.

Ngoc Minh Nguyen

Accounting Technician I
Clerical and Administrative Services
North Orange County ROP

A smiling woman with dark, wavy hair and glasses is centered in the foreground against a mottled blue background.

Raelene Velasquez

Paraeducator
Paraprofessional Services
Orange County Department of Education

Important Dates

September 1, 2026: Orange County Classified School Employee of the Year (CSEY) Intent to Participate forms sent to district contacts

September 18, 2026: CSEY Intent to Participate forms due to OCDE

September 25, 2026: Orange County nomination packet Google link emailed to CSEY district coordinators

January 8, 2027: Orange County nomination applications due to OCDE

March 2027: Orange County CSEY finalists announced

March 2027: Postmark deadline for County Offices of Education to submit nominations to the California Department of Education (CDE)

April 2027: CDE announces the 2027 CSEY Awardees

May 17-21, 2027: Classified School Employee Week

Resources

Charter School Classified Employee of the Year

2026 Orange County
Classified School Employee of the Year Finalist

Nine smiling individuals are presented in a grid against a sparkly, blurred background.

Starting from top row, left to right: Raelene Velasquez, Jose Bueno, Minh Nguyen, Paul Dalmas, Memo Gutierrez, Donna Irumundomon, Deborah Guevara, Jagath Jayaratne, Fidel Jacobo Ayala

Get to know our finalists

Classified School Employees of the Year

Kristin Rigby

Alicia Gonzalez

2026 Orange County Classified School Employee of the Year Finalist

2026 Orange County
Classified School Employee of the Year Finalist