EDCOE Team Member Spotlight - Cathy Proper

16:30 PM - November 09, 2022

Briefly describe your background (where you grew up, family, why you came to work for EDCOE). 

I was born and raised in Vallejo. Family was always very important, and I was lucky to have all my family living in the same town: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Family gatherings were the best! I have three amazing children: my daughter Cassie (37) and two sons, Jacob (31) and Kyle (30) plus my daughter-in-law, Kayla. Jacob and Kayla blessed me with my 13-year-old grandson, Eli, and anyone that knows me knows that he is the apple of my eye. He has lived with me pretty much since he was born, and we are best buddies. My parents relocated to El Dorado County 40 years ago and in 2012, after living in the southeast (FL and AL) for 21 years, I decided it was time to “come home.” I feel so fortunate to work for EDCOE. It’s the best environment, culture, and work family you could ask for! 

 

What is your department, title, primary work location, and how long have you worked for EDCOE?

I work in Human Resources as the Credentials Analyst at the EDCOE Green Valley Campus. I have worked here for eight years and four months. 

 

Describe how your role helps support programs/schools/students directly or indirectly.

I work directly with the districts and our programs regarding anything, and everything credentialed! I help teachers with their existing credentials if they want to add a supplementary authorization. I work with brand new teachers if they need emergency permits to be in the classroom while they are working on obtaining their credential. I help out-of-state or out-of-country educators obtain their CA credential. My big yearly task is assignment monitoring, which is making sure all our teachers - county-wide - are in the right classrooms with the right credentials.   

 

What do you most appreciate about your department/team?

Our teamwork and camaraderie. Everyone is always so willing to help each other out and no matter how crazy it can get at times, we are here for each other, we can still laugh and have fun! The food helps too. 

 

What is your proudest moment at EDCOE? Why?

I am very fortunate to have many proud moments at EDCOE. I love helping people and luckily for me I get that opportunity almost every day. Whenever I help an educator, especially when they are from out-of-state or out-of-country, receive their CA credential, well, I just couldn’t be happier! 

 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to travel, experience, and see new things, I love history! I enjoy live music and going to concerts. I like to hike and check out any and all waterfalls! And of course, spending time with Eli. I’m also very lucky that Cassie likes to hang out with her mom. 

 

What is something many people may not know about you?

I lived next door to the suspected Zodiac killer, Arthur Leigh Allen. His parents lived next door to us on Fresno Street in Vallejo and he lived with them for a while. All of us neighborhood kids used to jump on the trampoline he had set up in the front yard. Kind of creepy when I think about it now! 

 

If you could meet anyone in the world, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

That’s a toss-up between Dolly Parton and Diane Sawyer. I have always admired their professionalism, strength, creativity, and the quality of work they have produced. Their lives are so interesting, and I would love to meet them. I have so many questions for them! 

From Amy Andersen, Executive Director, Human Resources

Why is this individual crucial to your team?  

Cathy provides credentialing guidance to all the districts and charter schools in El Dorado County. In addition to this, Cathy provides one on one guidance to teacher candidates trying to navigate the credentialing process. What makes Cathy’s contributions to our team and our county so exceptional is that she will try to find any way possible to ensure staff are credentialed to avoid any disruptions to our classrooms. Her excellent work and service has paid off with tangible results of assisting districts with anything from waivers to permits. She then takes the time to look at every situation individually and leaves no stone unturned to try and find a way to properly credential a candidate, substitute, or new employee. This ongoing attitude, professionalism, and her willingness to put in the extra work has influenced our districts in a positive way. Her passion and commitment show through in her everyday work ethic, which makes her such an incredible person to work with. 

What are this individual’s greatest qualities?

Her commitment to find a way to get more teachers in the classroom to make our county’s educational system better. She takes her commitment and professionalism to the next level by always going above and beyond the basic expectation of service. Recently, several districts expressed their gratitude for Cathy’s assistance, commitment, and efforts and how they were able to make significant progress in getting staff credentialed with short term credentials/permits and waivers. 

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