Los Gatos community briefs for the week of July 12

Special recognition

Special education staff in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District recently racked up numerous accolades.

Heath Rocha was named Santa Clara County’s Special Education Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators. District staff and parents noted Rocha’s “commitment to the wellbeing of each and every student, and the families that support and love them,” as well as “his remarkable understanding of the myriad legal obligations that apply to his work, coupled with the fact that he never allowed those obligations to stand in the way of putting children first.”

Darlene Norman was honored as Outstanding School Psychologist by the Santa Clara County Association of School Psychologists (SCCASP) for her “exemplary services to students, staff and parents.”

“Her assessments are thorough, and her consultations and meeting facilitation are always professional and productive,” reads a statement from SCCASP. “She is a tireless worker who does what is right for kids and our profession.”

SCCASP’s Meritorious (Laura Whitmore) Award​ went to district program specialist/psychologist ​Bret Schmidt. “He has helped countless staff and teams address student needs more efficiently and effectively,” reads the statement. “In his district work, Bret does both psychologist and program specialist duties ensuring that assessments, meetings, and IEPs conform to best practices in the field.

​The late Michael Slone was this year’s recipient of SCCASP’s Mike Goodman Lifetime Achievement Award​ given to “individuals who have given long-term service to children, the community and the profession of school psychology.”