Education leaders throughout East County made the grade recently with the announcement of the 2012 Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) awards.

This year’s Delta Charter winners – from the Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley, Liberty, Byron, Brentwood and Knightsen school districts – run the gamut from office administrator to district superintendent.

Merrill Grant, superintendent of the Brentwood Union School District, considered the award a high honor. “It’s nice to be recognized by your peers, and I am just so pleased to be included,” said Grant. “It’s an individual award but it’s also a team award because we’ve all worked so hard together to keep the focus on the students and the classroom.”

Grant also shone the spotlight on Phyllis Thiverge, the Brentwood district’s classified leader for 2012. Thiverge works in the district’s Food Services Division. “Phyllis is so deserving of this award,” said Grant. “Every day she provides nutritious meals to over 8,300 children in our district. It’s a huge job.”

Two of this year’s honorees represent the Oakley Union Elementary School District: Anne Allen, from curriculum and instruction, and Roger Macdonald, middle grades principal.

“I’m incredibly proud of both Roger and Anne for their tireless dedication to the district and its students,” said Oakley Superintendent Rick Rogers. “Roger is an incredible instructional leader who always places the needs of his students first, and Anne is absolutely one of the best, most competent professionals I have ever had the pleasure to work with. They are both extremely deserving.”

According to Bryon Union School District Superintendent Ken Jacopetti, confidential employee Bev Nicolaisen – having served the district for more than 30 years – is a perfect choice for this year’s award. “I can’t think of anyone who is more deserving of this award than Bev,” said Jacopetti. “In a small district like ours she really takes on so many responsibilities and truly serves as my right hand. She’s a very classy, professional lady. I can’t say enough about her.”

The annual honor recognizes professional administrators in 19 regions throughout the state, including Region 6, which encompasses Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Nominated by their peers, the honorees are recognized for their exemplary commitment to education. Region 6 comprises 21 charters, including the Delta Charter.

The 2012 honorees are:

• Anne Allen, head of curriculum and instruction, Oakley Union School District

• Eileen Alterman, confidential employee,

Antioch Unified School District

• Pat Boss, central office administrator,

Liberty Union School District

• Dorothy Epps, personnel human resources, Pittsburg Unified School District

• Amy Farias, continuation and educational options, Antioch Unified School District

• Erik Faulkner, secondary principal,

Liberty Union High School District

• Merrill Grant, superintendent,

Brentwood Union School District

• Roger Macdonald, middle grades principal, Oakley Elementary Union School District

• Bev Nicolaisen, confidential employee,

Byron Union School District

• Enrique Palacios, business services,

Pittsburg Unified School District

• Essence J. Phillips, elementary principal,

Antioch Unified School District

• Phyllis Thiverge, classified leader,

Brentwood Union School District

Established in 1971, ACSA is the largest organization of school administrators in the nation, serving more than 16,000 education leaders. The organization’s goal is to support the state’s administrators and champion public education. This year’s honorees will be recognized at an awards dinner on March 8 at the Lone Tree Golf Course in Antioch. For more information on ACSA, visit www.acsa.org.