2026 KCSOS You Make a Difference Awardees Named

Each year, KCSOS recognizes outstanding employees who exemplify the organization’s mission of serving children through excellence, innovation, and dedication. The You Make a Difference Awards honor individuals in three categories: Distinguished Service, Innovation in Education, and the Larry E. Reider Excellence Award. This year’s recipients reflect the strength and diversity of KCSOS’s programs and the people who power them. Let’s meet this year’s honorees.

ANDREA WATSON
School District Facility Services Specialist
Larry E. Reider Excellence Award

Keeping school facilities projects moving, construction on schedule, and millions of dollars in impact fees accurately managed requires expertise and precision. Across Kern County, when a complex facilities challenge needs solving, Andrea Watson is the person to call.

That expertise and commitment have earned Watson the Larry E. Reider Excellence Award in recognition of the professionalism, service, and dedication she brings to KCSOS.

As an Operational Support/School District Facility Services Specialist—only the second person to hold the role at KCSOS—Watson supports facility planning and construction, coordinates with school districts and contractors, and provides technical expertise on school impact fee issues.

Her department coordinates the joint powers authority (JPA) known as School District Facilities Services (SDFS) for 33 participating Kern County school districts, managing school construction, statutory facility fees, and Mello-Roos taxes. Spearheaded in 1994 by retired Schools Legal Services (SLS) attorney Steve Hartsell and managed by Mary Baker, Manager for School District Facility Services (SDFS), until her retirement in 2017, the JPA streamlines complex funding streams for local education.

While developers expect these costs, homeowners pulling permits for independent construction are often unfamiliar with school impact fees. Watson guides them through the process, ensuring clarity and compliance.

Christian Shannon, Deputy Superintendent of Operational Support at KCSOS, noted that Watson’s influence spans the entire organization.

“Andrea continually seeks ways to improve the organization,” he shared. “Colleagues seek her guidance because they trust her judgment, integrity, and ability to solve complex problems… She is truly indispensable.”

Watson’s attention to detail earns equal praise from external partners. Tamra Lopez of the City of Bakersfield Development Services Building Division highlighted her careful stewardship of fees and collaboration, while facilities partner Giovanna Fournier called Watson’s professionalism invaluable.

An 18-year veteran of KCSOS, Watson remains grateful for her community partners and for Shannon, who secretly invited her family to the Office Welcome to surprise her and celebrate her award.

“This is a good place to grow,” she shared. “I really feel like the culture of KCSOS is family and we’re all working towards a common goal. That’s invaluable.”

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ARNOLD CORONADO
Warehouse/Delivery Worker
Distinguished Service Award

Accuracy, organization, efficiency, and attention to detail are essential to keeping the KCSOS warehouse running smoothly. Equally important is a willingness to help others. Together, these qualities keep inventory organized, shipments and deliveries on schedule, and equipment in the hands of students and staff when they need it.

Arnold Coronado, Warehouse/Delivery Worker, brings these traits to work every day. His dependability has earned the trust of coworkers and community partners, making him a deserving recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award.

Coronado joined KCSOS 22 years ago after his neighbor, Greg Henry, Manager of Operations, learned he was job hunting. Coronado previously ran his own business and worked part-time for local schools. Growing up, he watched his father travel as a minister while doing repairs at every church, learning firsthand how to be of service to others. Today, colleagues routinely call him for advice.

During his first days at the warehouse, Coronado saw the seamless coordination between Grounds, Transportation, Production, and the Central Kitchen. He realized he was working at the operational hub of a community-wide effort dedicated to uplifting local schools. Today, he is proud to be part of a team that consistently goes the extra mile.

Known for his reliability, positive attitude, and outstanding customer service, Coronado supports schools and colleagues alike with genuine camaraderie. Whether celebrating wins or offering a listening ear, he makes a point to extend friendship through good times and bad, believing mutual support is central to KCSOS’s culture.

“I just like helping people,” Coronado said.

His mindset hasn’t gone unnoticed by leadership.

“Arnold has been a cornerstone of the KCSOS warehouse for over twenty years,” Rob Roberson, Supervisor of Warehouse Operations, said. “We are incredibly grateful for his two decades of dedicated service and the high standard of excellence he maintains every day.”

Coronado was shocked when his name was called for the award. As Dr. Mendiburu read the praise, Coronado assumed the colleague sitting next to him was the recipient and was already cheering for him.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Coronado said. “I was just beside myself. I did not even consider that it was going to be me.”

For Coronado, working at KCSOS means contributing to a family-oriented mission that puts students and educators first. He remains proud to play a role in the impact KCSOS makes on the broader community.

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MICHELLE MARQUEZ
Executive Secretary
Larry E. Reider Excellence Award

As an Executive Secretary supporting the Superintendent, Michelle Marquez serves in one of the most visible and demanding roles within KCSOS. Sitting on the front line of executive operations, she is often the very first person visitors encounter when entering the Superintendent’s office.

Her exceptional dedication was officially recognized when she received the Larry E. Reider Excellence Award, honoring employees who exemplify the organization’s highest ideals of leadership and service.

Long before managing high-level operations on the 7th floor of City Centre, Marquez’s connection to KCSOS began as a CSUB college student tutoring for the migrant program. The experience introduced her to the organization’s direct community impact.

“Going to those kids’ homes and being able to give them backpacks and school supplies, they were so grateful for that,” Marquez recalled.

She remembers feeling that KCSOS was a great place to work, and hoped she could one day return to a full-time position.

During her time away from KCSOS, Marquez picked up a job working for a property management company. There, Marquez was instructed by her supervisor to be less friendly and more stern about rent payments. Marquez found this directive difficult to accept; treating people with compassion was second nature to her. The experience proved a turning point, reinforcing her need for a workplace culture where a kind, human-centered approach was valued.

Her return to KCSOS came in 2014 when she was hired by Early Childhood Education Director Cindy Ruiz. Watching Ruiz command respect inspired Marquez to strive for excellence, while candid conversations about the perseverance required of women in leadership left a lasting impression.

Marquez later transitioned to External Business before joining the Superintendent’s office in 2023.

Now marking 12 years with KCSOS, Marquez ensures the Superintendent’s office runs seamlessly, supports colleagues across departments, and upholds high standards of integrity and kindness, ultimately furthering the broader educational mission serving students and educators across Kern County.

KCSOS Chief of Staff Steve Sanders sees Marquez as representative of “the gold standard of what an exceptional KCSOS employee should be.”

That recognition means the world to Marquez, who takes pride in always presenting KCSOS at its best.

“I just feel so incredibly, incredibly grateful,” she shared. “What an honor!”

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VICKI LUECK
District Payroll/Retirement Compliance Manager
Distinguished Service Award

Vicki Lueck never planned on a career in payroll. It started with a favor for a neighbor. When the owner of a local tuxedo shop asked Lueck to help run his business while he was away, she discovered she had a knack for payroll and auditing. What began as temporary help eventually set her on a career path that would span decades — including the past 20 years at KCSOS.

Lueck later handled payroll responsibilities for her husband’s family construction company. Eventually, her daughter, who was working at SISC, encouraged her to make a career change from managing a fabric store and apply for a position in payroll and auditing at KCSOS.

Lueck joined the KCSOS team in 2006. When an opening in payroll arose, Lueck made the jump. When the supervisor position opened up, she decided to apply.

Today, as District Payroll/Retirement Compliance Manager for External Business and Fiscal Support, Lueck oversees complex payroll and retirement compliance for school districts throughout Kern County. She ensures that payroll, tax reporting, and retirement reporting strictly meet state and federal requirements. She also conducts training for school district payroll and human resources staff, assists with audits, develops compliance procedures, and serves as a trusted resource on complex payroll and retirement matters.

Her expertise, attention to detail and commitment to service have earned her recognition as a recipient of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Distinguished Service Award.

Her two decades of expertise in payroll auditing have solidified her status as an exceptional supervisor at KCSOS, helping establish the agency as a trusted employer across the community.

Maxx Garris, Chief Financial Operations Officer of External Business Services, expressed that Lueck’s commitment to accuracy and service has made her an invaluable partner to school districts across the county.

“Payroll and retirement are areas where there’s really no room for error—people depend on it, and even small mistakes can have a big impact on an employee or a district,” Garris explained. “Vicki understands that and takes it seriously. She makes sure things are done right.”

Lueck emphasizes that the key to maintaining accuracy is checking, double-checking, and remaining transparent whenever an error occurs.

“I want everybody to retire with the service credit they’re supposed to have and at the right rates,” Lueck said.

She takes her leadership role seriously, prioritizing accuracy and support for her team while serving as a trusted resource for Chief Business Officials (CBOs), attorneys, and district payroll departments. As Lueck prepares to retire next year, Garris noted that her impact will be felt for years to come, especially within the strong payroll team she built.

Looking back on her career, Lueck says she has enjoyed every single day at KCSOS, and she sees the far-reaching impact of the organization firsthand in the educational experiences of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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ALLYSON BAPTISTE
Program Coordinator for Foster Youth Services
Larry E. Reider Excellence Award

Allyson Baptiste is widely recognized as a dedicated advocate and visionary leader for Kern County’s foster youth and students experiencing homelessness. As a recipient of the Larry E. Reider Excellence Award, her vision reaches beyond the expectations of her position, with colleagues noting that her passion is palpable.

“She is an irreplaceable asset to KCSOS because of her ability to turn vision into action while bringing people together to move that vision forward,” shared Prevention Services Facilitator Yury Peralta, who nominated Baptiste.

As Program Coordinator for Foster Youth Services within the School-Community Partnerships Department, Baptiste oversees grants and initiatives connecting schools, community organizations, and other agencies. In five years at KCSOS, she has established programs, strengthened partnerships, and built sustainable systems to benefit students for years to come.

“I think that KCSOS is one of the best agencies to be able to work for in Kern County,” Baptiste shared, praising the opportunity to design macro-level initiatives that improve the lives of Kern County’s foster and homeless youth.

As co-advisor for the Youth Action Board, Baptiste supports youth with lived experience of homelessness, helping them develop leadership skills and influence local policy. Her leadership during Homeless Youth Awareness Month, including campaigns like the Purple Pie Challenge, has heightened local engagement. Baptiste credits her team and community members for making these resources possible, noting that school leaders must carry frameworks like the Student Voice Ambassador Program into their classrooms.

“It takes an entire community to do the work for a foster or homeless youth,” she said.

Baptiste co-authored the application for Kern County’s $5.2 million Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grant, a competitive award positioning KCSOS as a leader in equity-driven innovation. KCSOS applied for five consecutive years before winning. When the grant was delayed, colleagues felt Baptiste’s disappointment.

“[Allyson] is not just someone who shows up to work just to get things done, but truly feels the weight and responsibility of it on how it impacts others,” Peralta shared.

Baptiste’s intensity of care is rooted in years of front-line experience in child welfare, including working as an emergency response social worker in Napa and Boron.

“I really believe that I’ve always meant to work in foster and homeless services,” Baptiste said.

With foster and homeless youth at greater risk for chronic absenteeism and dropping out of school, Baptiste encourages community members to step up as volunteers and shatter negative stereotypes.

“There’s not one kid that’s a foster or homeless youth that their circumstance is their fault,” she shared. “It’s important that we just come alongside them and support them.”

Above all, her family fuels her passion. She and her husband, an intervention specialist in Tehachapi, have made advocacy a shared family mission.

“It kind of wraps around my whole life,” she said. “It’s really what I’m passionate about at the end of the day.”

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CHRIS WHITE
Program Specialist – Behavior Emphasis
Innovation in Education

When students experience behavioral challenges, timely support can alter the trajectory of their educational journey. At KCSOS, Chris White, Program Specialist – Behavior Emphasis and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), helps redefine what that support looks like, blending evidence-based practices with empowerment and genuine relationships to create stronger outcomes for students with exceptional needs.

Nominated by Program Coordinator Trenton Unruh for the Innovation in Education award, White was recognized for his leadership in improving departmental processes and student experiences. Having served KCSOS for over seven years, he developed and implemented a modified Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model across seven court and community school sites, adapting the framework to better meet the behavioral and social-emotional needs of students in alternative education settings.

“His approach streamlines how students with behavioral challenges are identified, referred, and supported across school sites,” Unruh explained.

White’s passion for his job stems from his childhood. Growing up alongside a best friend with special needs, he noticed how limited his friend’s social circle was before it expanded. That bond inspired him to enter the field and help students build meaningful connections.

This perspective shapes his work, especially at the Kern Crossroads Facility. Working with students in juvenile detention reminds him of his own fortunate circumstances and reinforces his belief in their ability to grow. He views many students as deeply influenced by their environments, emphasizing understanding over blame.

White’s modified behavioral support system uses the three-tiered model designed to provide continuity of care across campuses through direct intervention and staff collaboration:

Tier One focuses on all students through discussions that model positive behavior.

Tier Two connects classroom efforts to personal goals, using real-world analogies like weightlifting to show how support resources apply outside school.

Tier Three involves technical behavior intervention plans, direct intervention services, and partnerships with school districts during critical transitions, such as moving from middle school to high school.

White encourages students by comparing classroom effort and career discipline to building physical strength, emphasizing that achieving goals requires showing up and putting in the work even when it is difficult.

The approach resonates with students. During a visit to a powerlifting event at Redwood High School, White observed students supporting each other, a level of encouragement he noted was rare even in his own gym.

White credits his professional journey to his wife and two daughters, and his mentor, Karlyn Farber, whom he considers a second mother and hopes to see honored with a KCSOS Lifetime Achievement Award someday. Farber inspired his transition to the SELPA and transformed his life and countywide special education by mentoring educators and behavior analysts to improve student outcomes. He also credits the Internal Special Education Programs team, where “we have each other’s back,” and praises the family-first culture fostered by Director Michelle Taylor Langham.

Ultimately, the behavior model succeeds because it centers on what matters most to White and his team: helping students achieve long-term independence.

“The kids are the reason why we show up to work every day,” White said. “We make sacrifices, but all those sacrifices are worth it because we see that effort reciprocated by the kids.”

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JOHN STENERSON
Deputy Executive Officer (SISC)
Distinguished Service Award

For 38 years, John Stenerson has helped shape the future of employee health benefits for California’s public schools.

As Deputy Executive Officer of Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC), he oversees one of the nation’s largest public school health benefits pools, guiding strategy, managing costs, and driving healthcare solutions for hundreds of school districts and their employees, from San Diego County to Siskiyou County on the Oregon border.

Stenerson is a recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his leadership and statewide impact on health care coverage for public school employees.

His path began with a leap of faith. Stenerson moved to Kern County from North Dakota as an oil and gas tax auditor, planning to work in the region’s energy sector. He cast a wide net before spotting a newspaper ad for an accountant position at SISC. He was interviewed by former County Superintendent Larry Reider and Russ Bigler, former CEO of SISC.

When Stenerson joined SISC, the organization served five counties: Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Inyo, and Mono. As school districts searched for financial stability, SISC’s reputation sparked statewide expansion.

Over time, Stenerson rose to Chief Operating Officer and now Deputy Executive Officer, balancing fiscal strategy with modernized care and shielding school districts from price shocks by maintaining stable rates. He also expanded telehealth options, helping reduce member appointment wait times from weeks to days.

Today, Stenerson’s role places him within a national network of leaders in employee benefits. SISC is part of the Employer Health Innovation Roundtable (EHIR), alongside corporate giants such as Google and PepsiCo. He attributes much of his success to a leadership style rooted in trust, which has helped employees stay at SISC for 10 to 20 years because they value the work environment.

“I’ve always tried to hire the best people for the job, and then give them some guidance, but also not look over their shoulder, and let them do their thing,” Stenerson explained.

One of Stenerson’s defining accomplishments came in 2014, when SISC broke from the “Big Three” pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), CVS, Express Scripts, and Optum, and partnered with Navitus, a lesser-known PBM built around cost transparency. The decision proved transformative: prescription costs remained flat for eight consecutive years as industry expenses climbed.

The results gave SISC an opportunity to share its experience, eventually leading to an invitation from Navitus to the White House. There, Stenerson presented the SISC model to federal staffers. He described the experience as thrilling.

When Dr. Mendiburu announced Stenerson as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, Stenerson was genuinely surprised. The day also offered a full-circle moment when he reconnected with his original mentor, Russ Bigler.

Stenerson credits his staff, Bigler, SISC CEO Dr. Dave Ostash, and retired CEO Nick Kouklis for much of his success and many of his achievements at SISC.

Though he hasn’t set an exact date, Stenerson plans to retire within the next year. When that day arrives, he will leave behind an organization built to last and 38 years of friendships made along the way.

Outside of work, he has maintained a 36-year connection with colleagues through a fantasy baseball league formed in 1990. A core group remains constant, including Michael Hulsizer, retired Chief Deputy of Legislative Services and Government Relations, and Larry Reider.

“It’s something we look forward to every year,” Stenerson shared. “We get together and we do our draft, and then we have our season. It’s one of my favorite hobbies.”