Riverside County Office of Education
Home MenuThanks to Superintendent Edwin Gomez's Literacy by 5th Grade Initiative, Riverside County students are enjoying reading with the Footsteps2Brilliance apps.
GET THE APPLearn how the California UPK initiative can help your family access quality early education programs.
UPK OPTIONSCAREspace offers mental health services for Riverside County students, families, schools, and the community.
MORE INFORMATION
Free Bilingual Online Literacy Apps for Riverside County Families
As part of the Literacy by 5th Grade Initiative, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez is providing free access to a suite of bilingual learning programs for all students in Riverside county.
From pre-reading activities and read-to-you stories, to alphabet recognition songs and grammar rules games, these interactive, new tools from Footsteps2Brilliance are now available to our youngest learners 24/7.
- Go to www.myf2b.com/riverside.
- Click the Register for Free Today button.
- Enter your home zip code and click the Check my Zip Code button.
- Select your school district from the options provided.
- Click the Register in English or Registrarse en español button.
- Follow the prompts to complete your child’s registration.
For more information, please see our recent press releases:
Can Riverside County Students Read Three Million Words This Spring? - 2/24/2022
RCOE Offers Free Access to Interactive, Early Literacy Program, Footsteps2Brilliance - 1/26/2022
Our Schools
Please contact your local school district to identify the school boundaries for your location. CLICK HERE for school district contact information.
Need to order transcripts? Request Student Records Online
Three Desert-Area Educators Named 2022 Riverside County Educators of the Year in Surprise Visits
LA QUINTA, PALM SPRINGS, DESERT HOT SPRINGS – An enterprising school nutrition leader, a math teacher without a classroom, and a rock-climbing elementary school counselor, were among the three desert-area educators surprised with the news that they were selected as 2022 Riverside County Educators of the Year by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez.
Surprise Visit #1: 2022 Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year
Daniel Cappello, Director of Nutrition Services, Desert Sands USD
The first of three separate surprise visits started with a gathering of employees in the outside courtyard at Desert Sands USD’s district office as Daniel Cappello was named the 2022 Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year.
“Daniel believes strongly that children cannot learn if they do not eat. This is his fundamental and core belief that forms every decision and every action within Nutrition Services,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, as he presented Mr. Cappello his certificate. “It was clear to the selection panel that Daniel is a team player that sets clear expectations and shows unmatched support for his department to serve healthy, nutritious meals.”
“I’m truly excited to receive this award, particularly because of the great work of our Nutrition Services team. Even in the best of times, our work can be a challenge, and they have all risen to the occasion,” said Mr. Cappello immediately following the surprise announcement that included dozens of colleagues joining the celebration. “This is the highlight of my career.”
Surprise Visit #2: 2022 Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year
Ioana Pirvu Robles, Secondary Math Teacher on Special Assignment, Palm Springs USD
The second surprise visit took place at the Palm Springs Unified District Office as Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, and administrators from the Palm Springs Unified School District, interrupted a staff meeting with Ms. Robles and her colleagues.
“Ms. Robles believes that celebration is what creates the community and feeling of belonging which students need in order to thrive,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Colleagues describe Ms. Robles as highly skilled at building relationships with students and adults alike. Teachers trust her, administrators appreciate her, and students respect and adore her.”
“I cherish the work, and I’m super thankful, humbled, and happy to be surrounded by those with the same mindset,” said Ms. Robles immediately after being surprised with the news she is the 2022 Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year. “I am constantly thinking of the well-being of our students. We are all a team, and as long as we are doing right by the kids, and they are excelling, we are doing the right thing.”
Surprise Visit #3: 2022 Riverside County Counselor of the Year
Damon Bonelli, Counselor, Bella Vista Elementary School, Palm Springs USD
With the entire student body and staff gathered outside for an assembly, the final surprise visit at Bella Vista Elementary School in Desert Hot Springs featured balloons, custom-designed congratulatory signs, and hundreds of excited students and staff members.
“Your counselor was pivotal in providing support to parents and teachers during the pandemic and encouraging a focus on mindfulness in his SEL virtual lessons,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, as he addressed the students and staff of Bella Vista Elementary School. “When he walks in the halls of Bella Vista, the students are eager to see him and welcome him into the classrooms.”
“I was in my office planning for next week, and, I heard the chatter on the radio and figured there must be some drama going on outside, and, it turns out it was good drama,” said a surprised Mr. Bonelli who threw his arms in the air and danced in excitement when he was announced as the Counselor of the Year, and then proceeded to lead the students in the school cheer. “I love working with elementary school students. They have lots of things going on in their lives, and we all work together and coordinate our resources for our students.”
Honoree Highlights
| Daniel J. Cappello |
|---|
|
Position: Director of Nutrition Services Award: 2022 Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year District: Desert Sands USD Grade/Assignment: PreK - 12th grade Years in Education: 18 (6 in current position) Notable Info: Daniel created a farm to school program with local farmers when it was becoming more difficult to procure supplies for meals. This helped mitigate potential losses for farms while successfully addressing supply chain issues. He also acquired Community Eligibility for 18 schools which removed barriers for students and provided them access to free lunch. This achievement also reduced student lunch debt by over $100,000. Quotable Quote from Application: “Children cannot learn if they do not eat... Equity in the cafeteria is just as important as equity in the classroom.” |
| Ioana Pirvu Robles | Damon Bonelli |
|---|---|
|
Position: Secondary Math Teacher on Special Assignment Award: 2022 Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year District: Palm Springs USD Grade/Assignment: 6th grade -12th grade Years in Education: 25 (6 in current position) Notable Info: Serves as a Secondary Math Teacher on Special Assignment serving middle schools and high schools. Has presented on various professional developments for teachers, staffs, and students (ie. “Instilling a Growth Mindset for Students”, “Hear Something, Say Something: The Macro Effects of Micro-Aggression”, etc). Member of PSUSD Antiracism Coalition and after-school Mission Graduate Tutor/Mentor for high school students. Quotable Quote from Application: ““To validate and uplift students in our community, we must work as a community. We must listen with intent to understand, with an open heart, and an open mind.” |
Position: School Counselor Award: 2022 Riverside County School Counselor of the Year District: Palm Springs USD Grade/Assignment: TK - 5th grade Years in Education: 21 (7 at current position) Notable Info: Member of American School Counseling Association Member. Graduate Student internship supervisor. Search and rescue team member for Joshua Tree National Park. Contributed to American School Counseling magazine about adolescent substance abuse. Contributed to an article on Palm Springs Unified Adolescent Substance Abuse Program. Quotable Quote from Application: “When a student chooses to drop out, they are not making an academic decision, they are making an emotional decision. Mental health and social emotional learning are critical for our students to succeed today.” |
The full list of categories and honorees for the 2022 Riverside County Educators of the Year:
Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year
Elia Sanchez, Clerk/Community Liaison
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Riverside County Principal of the Year
Jannette Price, Principal
Riverside County High School (Alternative Education)
Riverside County Office of Education
Press release for Sanchez and Price: First 2022 Riverside County Educators of the Year Named in Surprise Visits
Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year
Daniel Cappello, Director of Nutrition Services
Desert Sands Unified School District
Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year
Ioana Pirvu Robles, Secondary Math Teacher on Special Assignment
Palm Springs Unified School District
Riverside County School Counselor of the Year
Damon Bonelli, Counselor, Bella Vista Elementary School
Palm Springs Unified School District
Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year
Donna Lione, Director of Student Welfare & Success
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Press Release: Temecula Valley USD Educator Named 2022 Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year
Riverside County Confidential Employee of the Year
Tara Surguine, Executive Secretary to the Superintendent
Menifee Union School District
Press Release: Executive Secretary in Menifee Union School District Named Final 2022 Riverside County Educator of the Year
The Riverside County Educators of the Year are selected from the more than 36,000 educational employees in the county. The rigorous application process starts with nominations by teachers, classified employees, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where an outside selection committee selects the honorees before the county superintendent announcement.
Clarification: The 2022 Teachers of the Year were named in mid-2021 to align with the 2022 California State Teacher of the Year competition. The 2023 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be announced in May/June of 2022.
2022 Riverside County Teachers of the Year (named in mid-2021)
Karrie Carlson
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher
Riverside County Office of Education
(assigned to Murrieta Valley High School)
Kathleen Magaña
3rd Grade Teacher
Garretson Elementary School
Corona-Norco USD
Kristan Morales
Mathematics Teacher
Chaparral High School
Temecula Valley USD
Nichi Aviña*
Science Teacher
Cielo Vista Charter School
Palm Springs USD
* Nichi Aviña was named a 2022 California Teacher of the Year in October 2021