The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) has named Connie Jones, an agriculture science and viticulture teacher at Sonoma Valley High School, as the April 2025 Teacher of the Month.
Jones received the countywide recognition on Monday, April 28, during a surprise classroom visit attended by representatives of SCOE and local radio stations, as well as Sonoma Valley High Principal Molly Kiss and Vice Principal Paul Schloesser.
The recognition, which honors exceptional public school teachers across Sonoma County, is organized by SCOE in partnership with local radio stations. The stations air ads that invite community members to submit nominations and celebrate the winning teacher. Several of Jones’ students nominated her for the award, emphasizing her dedication to providing students with access to learning opportunities in the agriculture industry.
“She came into the school and grew a bond with all of her students,” one nominator said.
“She has done so much for our school and the school farm. She continues to work her hardest every day, and puts her students before herself.”
Her efforts include transforming an empty storage barn on the campus into an animal barn that allows students to start their agriculture journey. She also takes a hands-on role in helping students care for animals and plants and has expanded student participation in the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) program, the nominations said.
Jones began working at Sonoma Valley High last school year as a long-term substitute teacher, and returned this year as a fulltime educator. She’s taught courses in agriculture soil chemistry, advanced agriscience, viticulture, and floral; and has supported the school’s agriculture program by organizing field trips, connecting students to leadership opportunities, and collaborating with community partners, Principal Kiss said.
“The dedication and passion that she brings to work, we really do see that it spreads to our students,” Kiss said. “We’re so grateful to have her on staff at our school.”
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amie Carter thanked Jones for the strides she’s made to make agriculture education more accessible to students on her campus.
“The nominations that Connie received show what happens when a teacher fuses their passion for a subject with a genuine enthusiasm to share their knowledge with students,” Carter said.
As the winner of the Teacher of the Month contest, Jones received a $500 classroom gift card sponsored by Community First Credit Union, a six-month family membership from the Sonoma County Family YMCA in Santa Rosa, and $100 gift cards from Henry Mechanical and Bernstein Orthodontics.
Jones is the final recipient of the Sonoma County Teacher of the Month award for the 2024-25 school year.
Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond for their students? Nominations for next year can be submitted at Hot 101.7
