Top Fresno County educators were honored Thursday night at the annual Educator of the Year Awards at the Saroyan Theatre.
Nominees and finalists for school employee, administrator and teacher of the year were recognized for their dedication and outstanding work.
Kent Hammons, a special education teacher for the Fresno County Office of Education who works at Fresno Pacific University, was named teacher of the year during the ceremony.
"It's a great blessing to work with the kids I have," Hammons said. "It's hard not to love the job I have."
Hammons wrote a $40,000 Kaiser Permanente grant to create a health and fitness program at Break the Barriers and works with local organizations to help his students achieve their goals.
Rosario Sanchez, assistant superintendent of Fresno Unified School District, was named administrator of the year. Sanchez is the former principal of Lincoln Elementary.
She was instrumental in transforming Lincoln from one of Fresno Unified's lowest-performing schools.
Sanchez created after-school programs that encourage learning and regularly meets with teachers to maintain positive morale.
"I am completely overwhelmed," Sanchez said. "I have such gratitude for the folks that nominated me -- I still don't know who they are. This recognition is for my staff and kids."
Amanda James, attendance secretary at James K. Polk Elementary in Central Unified School District, was named school employee of the year.
James helped Polk Elementary achieve the highest attendance rates in Central Unified. She also gives students one-on-one homework help and volunteers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Irma Montalvo, a bilingual tutor for Liberty Intermediate School in Kerman, was given the Bruce Barnett Award.
Montalvo was recognized for teaching students how to be confident, inquisitive and strong.
The awards presentation, hosted by the Fresno County Office of Education and Educational Employees Credit Union, honored nine finalists from seven school districts.
The other finalists were:
-- Administrator of the year: Wesley Sever, principal, John Wash Elementary School, Sanger Unified School District, and Danell Stepp, principal, Malaga Elementary School, Fowler Unified School District.
-- Teacher of the year: Anthony Catalan, Firebaugh High School, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District, and Joaquin Partida, Clovis Elementary School, Clovis Unified School District.
-- Employee of the year: Irma Montalvo, Liberty Intermediate School, Kerman Unified School District, and Roberta Sandoval, Clovis Unified School District.
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