COE Welcomes New Leaders

San Jose, CA…The Santa Clara County Office of Education recently hired or promoted more than a dozen managers to fill new and existing positions, in part as the result of a system-wide reorganization. Below are brief biographies of these new managers the COE has recruited to help support its mission as a champion for children, schools, and community.

Educational Services Branch Staff:

Melissa Christie has been appointed Coordinator for Focus on Math. With 20 years in teaching and education administration, she brings a wealth of experience to SCCOE. She previously served as Mathematics Coordinator with Pajaro Dunes Valley Unified School District.

Dr. Lisa Marie Gonzales has been named Coordinator of VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts). Before joining SCCOE she was Vice President of Education with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, where she took an active leadership role in various arts programs in the valley. Dr. Gonzales also has extensive administrative experience at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Alyssa R. Lynch has assumed the post of Director for Career Technical Education (CTE). Bringing 16 years of CTE experience and five years of director-level experience, Lynch has demonstrated leadership in the development of career pathways and programs of study. She previously served as Director of Santa Clara County ROP (Regional Occupational Programs-North).

Lisa Marie Pruitt has been named Coordinator for Reading/Language Arts. A veteran educator with nearly 20 years in teaching and administration, Pruitt has been involved in many professional activities and presentations that focus on language arts and literacy. Most recently she was Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at a Bay area school.

Jesse Ramos has taken on the job of Coordinator, Categorical Programs/Special Projects. He has served most recently as principal in Alameda Unified School District and before that he was a school principal at Berkeley Unified School District. Ramos has also taught and served as the after-school coordinator at a Spanish Bilingual School in Mount Diablo Unified.

Socorro Shiels has assumed the post of Program Director of District and School Support. She comes from Grant Joint Union School District where she served most recently as Director of Multicultural and Secondary Curriculum, and before that, as Director of Elementary Education. Shiels has teaching and administrative experience at the elementary school, high school and university levels.

Sheila L. Walters has been named Coordinator for Regional AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). With 20 years of experience, Walters has held positions of increasing responsibility in administration and program/teacher development. She comes to SCCOE from Campbell Union School District where she held the post of Coordinator, Mathematics and Grant Management.

SCCOE has promoted Dr. Diana Wilmot to the position of Coordinator for Assessment and Accountability. Dr. Wilmot joined SCCOE a year ago as a Research Analyst in the Standards and Assessment Department. She has more than 10 years of experience in teaching and education administration, with expertise in statistics, evaluation and assessment.

Technology Services Branch Staff:

Kelly Wade has been named Coordinator for Region 5, Ozone (an online learning program and professional development system). She comes to SCCOE from Santa Cruz County of Education, where she served as Online Learning Coordinator. Wade has 15 years of professional experience in teaching and administration at various educational levels.

Business Services Branch Staff:

Cal Scheid has joined SCCOE as Controller, bringing with him more than 15 years of experience handling the finances for California school districts. Most recently he served as Director of Fiscal Services with New Haven Unified School District in Union City, CA.

Student Services Branch Staff

Dr. Lisa E. Kaufman has joined as Director of Preschool Services, coming from San Francisco Unified School District where she previously served as Chief of Early Childhood Education/Executive Director of Child Development Program. Dr. Kaufman has more than 17 years of experience designing, developing and implementing numerous early care and education programs and initiatives.

Denise Noel has been named Coordinator for Instructor Support, State Preschool Child Development Center. Her more than 15 years of experience includes supervision of teachers and tutors, and an emphasis on work with preschool children. Most recently she held the post of Interim Program Administrator with CSUMB (California State University, Monterey Bay) Foundation.

Dr. Lucretia D. Peebles has assumed the post of Director of Charter Schools. Her professional background includes teaching and administration at the middle school, high school and college/university levels. Dr. Peebles has been actively involved with charter schools in various capacities for more than 10 years. Before joining SCCOE she was Education Research and Evaluation Consultant at the California Department of Education.

Date last updated: September 1, 2009