By The Leader Staff
Lemoore High School's Director of Maintenance, Manuel Dias, was honored by Kings County Superintendent of Schools Todd Barlow
Lemoore High School's Director of Maintenance, Manuel Dias, was honored by Kings County Superintendent of Schools Todd Barlow

The Kings County Office of Education, on an annual basis, recognizes and honors an administrator, teacher, and classified employee. This year, the county took a different tack, and instead of identifying just a select few, county officials honored 28 staff members from throughout the county's 13 school districts.

From Lemoore, Craig Manges, a science teacher from Lemoore High School, and Manuel Dias, a classified employee and lead maintenance worker, also from LHS, were honored.

Other Lemoore area honorees included Dominque Avina, a Lemoore Middle School teacher; Norris Yun, a classified/IMS Operations employee in the Lemoore Elementary School District; Dawn Vigario, a teacher at Island Elementary School; Dorit Battaglia, a Stratford Elementary teacher, and Jennifer DeRaad, a library clerk at Stratford Elementary.

The Kings County Office of Education recognized 28 outstanding teachers, administrators, and staff members. All 13 of the county's districts were represented in the live event held Tuesday night in Hanford's Fox Theater.

Excellence in Education annual event honors 28 educators and staff from throughout Kings County

"Having someone "win" over others at being an educator seems counterintuitive to the idea of highlighting the great work that is happening everywhere," said Kings County Superintendent Todd Barlow. "Twenty-eight staff members were honored, and for the first time, (and) Kings County represented all 13 districts in the live event. It was very well received," added Barlow.

In recent years, the county office has made changes to the event to simplify the application process, increase the participation of the county's districts, and honor more of the county's teachers, administrators, and staff.

Photos by Gary Feinstein, Feinsteinfotos


Lemoore High School Science Teacher Craig Manges with Superintendent Todd Barlow.
Lemoore High School Science Teacher Craig Manges with Superintendent Todd Barlow.
A group shot of all the Kings County honorees.
A group shot of all the Kings County honorees.
The Liberty School Jazz Band played during a dinner in the Hanford Civic Auditorium.
The Liberty School Jazz Band played during a dinner in the Hanford Civic Auditorium.