Alice Coehlo Cartwright has made a career out of helping students’ dreams come true. But recently the Freedom High School career center technician achieved a dream of her own.

On May 17, Cartwright was named the Contra Costa County Office of Education Classified Employee of the Year – the first time classified employees have been honored at the county level. It’s an honor that has left the Brentwood resident and Liberty High School alumnus a little tongue-tied.

“I don’t even know what to say,” said Cartwright. “I was very surprised. I clearly realize the scale of this award and it makes me even more proud of the achievement. It’s very satisfying.”

Cartwright – a 1993 Liberty graduate – began her career as a probation officer in Stanislaus County, but a desire to work closer to home and a tug toward education led her in 2005 to a professional change.

Today, she works at Freedom High School in the career center, counseling and guiding students as they prepare to transition from high school into the real world. “My job title is Career Center Technician but I’m basically a school counselor,” said Cartwright. “I’m a resource of information for students to find out about college, careers – and help them take the steps forward to graduate and then move on, whether it be a four-year college, junior college, a technical school or the work force.”

Gene Clare, assistant superintendent of administrative services of the Liberty Union High School District, believes Cartwright’s recognition is well deserved. “I’ve known Alice a long time,” said Clare. “She was a student when I was principal at Liberty, and she’s so deserving. She has a strong work ethic and is great at her job. I’m extremely proud of her.”

So now that Cartwright has received the county’s top honors, where does she go from here?

“Well, I’ve been thinking about that,” she laughed. “I hope to continue to add more opportunities and make more information available to our students by letting them know what’s new and what’s out there to help them succeed.

“I love my job, I love what I do and I love the district and community I work in. I’m a hometown girl; I couldn’t be in a better place.”