District honors decades of service, classroom excellence and the employees who continue shaping students and the community
The Folsom Cordova Unified School District brought together employees, retirees and families May 14 for an evening centered on appreciation, connection and the people who continue making a difference in the lives of students throughout the community.
Held at Hagan Community Park, the district’s Annual Employee Recognition Celebration served as both a year-end gathering for Team FCUSD and a tribute to the educators, classified professionals, administrators and support staff whose dedication continues shaping schools across the district every day.
The annual celebration recognized employees reaching significant career milestones, including 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service in FCUSD schools, classrooms and departments. District officials noted the lasting impact those employees have made over decades of commitment to students, families and public education throughout the region.
The evening also honored retirees from across the district’s certificated, classified and management teams, recognizing the years of service and leadership they devoted to classrooms, campuses, departments and student programs during their careers with FCUSD.
Throughout the event, district leaders reflected on the strong sense of connection that continues defining the district and the relationships employees build daily with students, families and one another.
In remarks shared during the celebration, Superintendent Erik Swanson spoke about the importance of connectedness throughout the district and emphasized that the strength of FCUSD is rooted not only in the work employees perform, but in the care, commitment and relationships they bring to their roles each day.
District officials said the event served as a reminder of the passion, excellence and unwavering dedication FCUSD employees continue bringing to schools and the broader community.
Several individual honors were also presented during the evening to employees whose work has earned recognition both within the district and beyond.
Among those recognized was 2026 FCUSD Teacher of the Year Julie Nittler, honored for her contributions to students and education within the district. Also recognized was Peter Maroon, named the 2026 ACSA Region 3 Administrator of the Year for his leadership and service in education.
FCUSD additionally recognized its 2026 Classified Employees of the Year, including Jesse Hernandez, Joanna Knight, Diana Tobin, Leticia Williams, John White and Nancy Gibson.
Four of those honorees — Hernandez, Knight, Tobin and White — also received recognition at the Sacramento County Office of Education level and advanced to state competition, bringing additional recognition to the district and its employees.
The celebration also came just ahead of Classified School Employee Week, observed statewide May 17 through May 23. The annual observance, encouraged by the California Department of Education, recognizes the critical role classified employees play in supporting students, maintaining school operations and helping campuses function each day behind the scenes.
From transportation and nutrition services to office staff, campus supervisors, maintenance teams and instructional support personnel, classified employees often serve as some of the most visible and consistent points of contact for students and families throughout the school year.
District officials said the recognition event highlighted not only professional accomplishments and years of service, but also the personal connections employees build across school communities throughout Folsom, Rancho Cordova and surrounding areas served by the district.
As another school year nears its conclusion, the annual gathering once again underscored the district’s focus on celebrating the employees whose work continues helping students feel supported, connected and inspired both inside and outside the classroom.
FCUSD also extended appreciation to sponsor SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union for supporting this year’s employee recognition celebration.
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