By Shrawani Thapa

Golden bells stand mounted on their pedestals, shining beneath the stage lights at the Oroville State Theater. Rows of raffle baskets lie neatly assembled on tables at the base of the stage. Pins honoring 10, 20, and 30 years of service lie neatly in their bags backstage, and awards stand proudly on a table, ready to go home with their deserving recipients. 

Every August, the Butte County Office of Education celebrates its employees with the annual BCOE Employee Recognition Event. Honoring individuals who have been with BCOE for just a few months to those who have made impacts over the course of 30-year careers, the event puts the spotlight on the contributions of staff from all across BCOE.

View a photo gallery of the Employee Recognition Event: https://watershedmedia.pixieset.com/buttecountyofficeofeducation

A long-standing tradition includes presenting bells to retiring employees. The bells symbolize the dedication and lasting impact the employees have made during their careers, and represent the celebration of the end of one era and beginning of the next.

From start to finish, BCOE staff are treated to a day in their honor, with hundreds gathering for festivities in Bicentennial Park and the Oroville State Theater. But what often goes unseen is the months of planning, attention to detail, and coordination that it takes to bring this event to fruition.

“There are so many small details behind the scenes, from making sure there is enough salsa for everyone’s breakfast burrito, to making sure that each guest speaker is prepared and knows where to be at what time,” said Mary Ellen Garrahy, BCOE’s Special Events manager who serves on this event’s team as Venue and Awards Specialist. “We organize this behind the scenes so employees can relax and enjoy the moment.”

Months in advance, Senior Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Ann Bates orders the golden bells. Shrawani Thapa, an intern working in the Superintendent’s Office, carefully unpacks the bells and polishes them, placing them into neat rows in boxes. Confidential Executive Project Assistant Desi Davis orders an assortment of balloons and coordinates its artful arrangement. Julie Glaspie, a specialist in the SPES Division, and Julio Bravo, SLSS Admin Coordinator, curate the menu and ensure each dish arrives perfectly on time. The event theme is thoughtfully chosen, and Gina Wilson, SPES Project Assistant, creates posters and signs that match.

Recent BCOE retiree Sharon Nilsson writes the script for the play, and arranges costumes and props. Communications Officer Travis Souders facilitates the sound systems and event photography, ensuring technical equipment is properly arranged and photographers are scheduled to capture the event. Groups of team members come together to form an assembly line and create the gift bags, while others design labels for the raffle prizes and frame them. 

Garrahy books the venue months in advance. Wilson and Glaspie lead the team that ensures there are sufficient tables, tablecloths, chairs, and stands. Coordinating with the team and other members of BCOE, Garrahy oversees every detail related to the awards, ensuring accuracy and quality on all of the designs and engravings on the awards.

In the bustle of putting together the event one fact is clear: This event is the culmination of more than a year of precise planning. 

The planning team meets monthly leading up to the event, increasing to several times a week as the day nears. They discuss where entry signs should go, review the event schedule, and take breaks to package the signs, sometimes slipping in a few fun trivia questions related to the event theme as they go.

Yet, the planning team sees the management of these logistics not as a task, but as a gift. It’s an opportunity to collaborate, give back, and show appreciation to everyone who makes BCOE. 

Serving over 13 school districts, 88 public schools and charter schools, more than 29,700 students enrolled in Butte County TK-12 public schools, and running programs throughout the county and the state is no small achievement. This day is a way to give thanks to all those who make it possible.

Glaspie organizes the menu and catering; Bravo coordinates the timing for food pickup and arrangement. 

“It’s nice to be a part of the planning and see the effort that goes into making this event special,” Bravo said. “There is definitely a sense of pride to be part of the planning team.”

BCOE’s Employee Recognition Event is not just a gift to the employees, it is also a way to connect with the local Oroville community. Senior Payroll Benefits Analyst Heidi Burns plays a key role in this, coordinating the gift and drawing items, often personally picking them up and ensuring they’re ready for the event. Burns connects with local businesses about the Employee Recognition Event in pursuit of contributions for the prize drawings. Burns noted that after the event, more employees learn about the different businesses in the Oroville area and are more eager to support them. 

Toward the end of the event, staff proudly give bells to the retiring employees, and present pins and awards with gratitude. The smiles on everyone’s faces throughout the day as they exit the stage, take pictures in the photo booth, win drawing prizes, and enjoy the live music and lunch, are the ultimate reward for the behind the scenes team. 

“The people who work at BCOE are incredible,” Bates said. “This event is a way to honor their work. It’s amazing to see the teamwork that takes place over the course of almost a full year to make this happen, and it’s always worth it.”

Shrawani Thapa is an intern in the BCOE Superintendent’s Division and a student at UC Davis. Email her at sthapa@bcoe.org.