Five Merced County administrators recognized by association

The local charter of the Association of California School Administrators has honored five administrators in Merced County with key awards.

Brian Meisenheimer, the Merced charter’s president, noted each recipient’s experience and dedication to their careers.

“Their expertise is exceptional,” Meisenheimer said in a prepared statement. “They are all extremely dedicated professionals who serve students in the community.”

Greg Spicer, associate superintendent for administrative services at Merced City School District, received the President’s Award for Merced County. He is a longtime administrator and former principal.

Teresa Saldivar-Morse, director of special education for Merced City School District, was named special education administrator of the year for the Merced charter. Jennifer Handy, principal at Bellevue Elementary School in Atwater, was named principal of the year. Pat Atkins, personnel chief at Los Banos Unified, was named human resources administrator of the year. Rae Ann Jimenez, superintendent-principal of the El Nido School District, was named superintendent-principal of the year.

The Association of California School Administrators will honor those who received the awards at a banquet in Fresno next month for Region 9, which includes Fresno, Madera, Mariposa and Merced.

The Association of California School Administrators, founded in 1971, is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the United States, serving more than 17,000 California educators, according to the organization’s website. Structured through more than two dozen job-alike and issue-oriented councils and committees; a board of directors; and a delegate assembly, ACSA focuses on school leadership and education policy issues at the state and federal levels.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Five Merced County administrators recognized by association."