By The Leader Staff
Elizabeth Dooley, CEO of Educational Employees Credit Union and Kings County Superintendent Tim Bowers honor the winners (left to right) Loretta Black, Lionel Garza, and Catherine Koelewyn.
Elizabeth Dooley, CEO of Educational Employees Credit Union and Kings County Superintendent Tim Bowers honor the winners (left to right) Loretta Black, Lionel Garza, and Catherine Koelewyn.
Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

Lemoore educators came out big winners at Wednesday night’s annual Kings County Office of Education Excellence in Education Awards, held in Hanford’s Civic Center. Cinnamon Elementary Principal Loretta Black and the Lemoore district’s top employee, Lionel Garza, both won the top awards.

The Lemoore Elementary School District had three total finalists competing Wednesday night. The teacher finalist was Liberty Middle School teacher Christopher Morshead.

Loretta Black, Kings County Administrator of the Year
Loretta Black, Kings County Administrator of the Year
Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

Other local finalists included Bryan Rice, a Lemoore High School’s Middle College history teacher and Mellissa Dufur, the school district’s registrar.

The Kings County Teacher of the Year was Catherine Koelewyn, a Pioneer Elementary School District educator.

Black, 44, is a Lemoore High School graduate has been with the Lemoore Elementary School District since 2005. She’s served as a teacher, learning coordinator, assistant principal, and since 2012 has served as her school’s principal.

The best part of her job she says: “That’s an easy one. It’s the kids,” she said. “They keep me on my toes and always surprise me.”

Garza, 46, is the district’s site custodian and grounds person at the University Charter School at West Hills College. He’s worked there for the past ten years. “The most enjoyable aspect of my job is to work around and with kids and be a mentor and a positive role model.”