Stories are all around us.

Today marks my third month as the Communications Officer at the Butte County Office of Education. Every day I’ve been here, I’ve marveled at the people, programs, and history of the organization.

BCOE does amazing things in Butte County–and has for more than 170 years. That isn’t just history; it’s legacy. And we honor legacy with stories.

That’s why I’m proud and excited to introduce BCOE Today, a site dedicated to sharing profiles and perspectives that tell the BCOE story.

BCOE Today highlights the remarkable work happening in classrooms, in offices, and in communities across Butte County. We will explore the innovative programs, dedicated people, and new developments at BCOE that make a difference for students in our community, no matter where they are on their paths as lifelong learners.

Consider, for example, the journey of Jaqueline Garcia Pelayo, a first-generation student of migrant parents now working at BCOE as a lead in Future Educator Support. Garcia Pelayo’s experiences, beginning in BCOE’s CA Mini-Corps, have shaped her ability to empathize with others. Her story reflects how the values we uphold at BCOE translate into the work its people do every day, impacting lives throughout the state.

Or take Robert Bibbs, whose involvement with the Back 2 Work program exemplifies resilience and hope. Bibbs’ journey out of incarceration and recidivism demonstrates the transformative power of BCOE’s programs. The enormous impact that Back 2 Work makes on a statewide level blew me away when I started working with BCOE. Truly, its success is a story worth telling.

Above all else, BCOE is what it is because of its people. On this site, we will capture those diverse perspectives in “BCOE Voices,” first-person vignettes designed to help our community see BCOE in a new, more personal light. I’m thrilled for you to read Maria Bravo’s insightful entry, which has the distinction of being our first “Voices” column. Personally, reading her entry reaffirmed that I’m in the right organization to help make a difference for our community’s students. I hope you get that feeling, too.

Looking ahead, BCOE Today will become a dynamic space where voices from across our organization can be heard, where we can celebrate the work we’re doing, and where we can share the BCOE experience with our community.

We all understand the impact a single person can make on a student’s education. I know I do. I have a hundred stories to tell about the teachers, coaches, and educators who supported me as a student, right here in Butte County.

Now consider that there are roughly 1,500 employees at BCOE, all of whom are striving, in one way or another, to make that same impact.

The stories are out there. I’m excited to help BCOE tell them.

Travis Souders is the Communications Officer at the Butte County Office of Education and the editor of BCOE Today. Reach him at tsouders@bcoe.org.