Staff from Beaumont Unified School District’s Instruction and Support Services team gathered in the board room at the Educational Support Facility for a regularly-scheduled meeting, only to find out that one of their extraordinary team members was about to be surprised with the news that she is the 2023 Riverside County Confidential Employee of the Year.
When Executive Assistant, Aprylle Larson, finally entered the room that was decorated with colorful balloons, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, and dozens of Aprylle’s colleagues and family members, greeted her with a chorus of “Surprise!” and a hearty round of applause.
“You are positive, and collaborative, as you work directly with staff on board policies, administrative regulations, field trips, contracts, software purchases, and so much more to protect the safety of students, staff, and the district,” Dr. Gomez said to Aprylle as he presented her with a certificate of the award. “As a former superintendent in two different districts, I can tell you how updating policies and regulations are critically important to the success of our schools.”
“I’m just about speechless!” Aprylle said to the crowd immediately after receiving the award. “On a daily, I rely on all of you as much as you rely on me. I’m really proud to be here—to work in a wonderful environment that is student-centered and student-focused.”
Aprylle has served for three years in the role of Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Support Services.
Beyond the day-to-day responsibilities as the top administrative support in the division, Aprylle helps coordinate the student of the month activities, science fair, spelling bee, and a film festival. Her experience as a library media technician has connected her with opportunities to lead professional development training each month for colleagues on how to integrate new technology into their individual and collective skill sets.
Larson’s surprise visit was the sixth of seven announcements recognizing the 2023 Riverside County Educators of the Year. One final surprise visit is planned for later in February. All honorees will be recognized at the 2023 Celebrating Educators Luncheon set for May 2, at the Riverside Convention Center.
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's announcement.
Along with the 2023 Riverside County Teachers of the Year named previously, all 2023 Riverside County Educators of the Year will be honored at the Celebrating Educators Luncheon, set for Tuesday, May 2, at the Riverside Convention Center.
The full list of honorees and categories for the 2023 Riverside County Educators of the Year:
- Riverside County School Counselor of the Year: Hilda Jauregui-Castanon, School Counselor, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Corona-Norco Unified School District
- Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year: Cassandra Willis, Director of Student and Family Support Services and Family Engagement, Corona-Norco Unified School District
- Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year: Craig Petinak, Director of Public Relations and Communications Services, Riverside County Office of Education
- Riverside County Principal of the Year: Michelle “Daphne” Donoho, Principal, Táawila Elementary School, Menifee Union School District
- Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year: Jeanine Wingfield, District Security Officer II, Moreno Valley Unified School District
- Riverside County Confidential Employee of the Year: Aprylle Larson, Executive Assistant, Beaumont Unified School District
- Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year – TBD later in February
Clarification: The 2023 Riverside County Teachers of the Year were named in mid-2022 to align with the 2023 California State Teacher of the Year competition. The 2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be announced in May/June of 2023 and will vie for the 2024 California State Teacher of the Year award that will be named in the fall of 2023 by the California Department of Education and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond.
2023 Riverside County Teachers of the Year (named in mid-2022):
- Autumn Lundblad, 1st Grade Teacher, Sundance Elementary School, Beaumont USD
- Heather Hanlon, Dance Teacher, Dorothy McElhinney Middle School, Murrieta Valley USD
- Anthony Gomez, Dual Language Immersion World/U.S., History Teacher, Jurupa Middle School, Jurupa USD
- Beth Schwandt, Music Teacher, Lake Hills Elementary School, Alvord USD