Angels Camp, CA… Each year, the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) presents the Partners in Excellence Award to outstanding community partnerships. The award recognizes individual leadership and contributions of school administrators, educators, and community leaders.

The Partners in Excellence Award was given to Calaveras Public Health for their excellence in communication, coordination and partnership with county schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Calaveras Public Health staff were by our side from the very beginning, enabling educators to focus on providing continuous learning opportunities to our students during this difficult time,” said Scott Nanik, Calaveras County Superintendent of Schools.

Calaveras Public Health was well ahead of the state in working with schools to create site-specific plans. The team at Calaveras Public Health rapidly initiated weekly calls with school nurses and administrators to respond quickly to their needs and provided resources for case management and contact tracing of students and staff who tested positive for COVID-19.

“Working through the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 has not been easy, but the educators in Calaveras County know that our path was much smoother because of the cooperation and partnership with Calaveras Public Health,” Nanik added.

Local health departments play a critical role in community response to emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic – case investigation, contract tracing, COVID-19 testing, and COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

“Calaveras Public Health has a dedicated team of public health professionals and staff that have worked tirelessly to ensure the health and well-being of everyone in Calaveras County,” stated Sam Leach, Interim Director Calaveras Health and Human Services Agency. “Engaging with community partners has been instrumental to increase the impact of public health interventions during the pandemic. It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of all the Calaveras Public Health team,” added Leach.

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