One of our own, Kay Spurgeon, passed away on Monday,
November 4, 2019. Kay was passionate about education, community, family and
friends.
Kay lived in Colusa County for 49 years. Kay and her husband
Eddie raised daughters, Kira, Erika, and Tara, and son Theron, and enjoyed spending time with her numerous grandchildren and
great grandchildren.
Kay dedicated her 49 years in Colusa County to education. Beginning in 1966, she taught in all four
districts in Colusa County and at Yuba Community College. In 1984, she became Assistant
Superintendent of Children's Services for the County Office of Education while
also serving as Coop Director for categorical programs for the county and
President of the California Coop Directors Association. Kay became Colusa
County Superintendent of Schools in 1995.
As a County Superintendent, Kay focused on improving
communications within the County Office and community, supporting student
achievement, and developing resources to meet the unserved needs of children
and families in the county. Just a few of Kay’s accomplishments included:
·
Active advocacy for return of community college
classes and services to Colusa County
·
Construction of facilities to serve the children
and youth of Colusa County: Colusa
Children's Center, Arbuckle Children's Center, Arbuckle Early Care and
Education Center, George E. Cain Children's Center, and the Education Village
in Williams. Additionally, she
collaborated with Woodland Community College for the Colusa County Outreach
Center at the Village, and special education classrooms at school sites in all
four districts
·
Partners In Education Forum (multiple years),
bringing education, public agencies, community groups and individuals together
to discuss issues and formulate plans of action for the County Office of
Education
·
Countywide staff development institutes
(multiple years), providing current issues and training to County Office and
district staff
·
Support of curriculum and instruction in K-12
system through grants for improvement of instruction and leadership
·
Gang Operational Team (GOT) to facilitate
collaboration between public agencies and education
·
Funding resources that more than doubled during
her tenure as Superintendent to provide services needed for the children, youth
and families in Colusa County, including child development programs, prevention
and intervention programs, curriculum support and development programs, health
services, and arts integration in core curriculum through the County Arts Team
(CAT)
·
Recognition of student academic achievement
through Academic Decathlon, 3+ Club, County Spelling Championships at
elementary and middle school levels; and support of the Super Seven (Colusa
High School), Distinguished Dozen (Pierce High School), Fabulous Five (Maxwell
High School), and Super Five (Williams High School) celebrated by community
groups
Kay actively participated in many organizations throughout
Colusa County:
·
Past President, California Cooperative Directors
Association, including organizing three statewide conferences
·
Past President, Capital Service Region (CSR)
County Superintendents
·
Regional Representative, California County
Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA)
·
CCSESA Liaison to the Business Administration
Steering Committee
·
CSR Curriculum & Instruction Committee
·
Association of California School Administrators
(ACSA)
·
Horace Mann League
·
Timber Counties Coalition
·
National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition
·
Glenn Colusa Resource Advisory Committee, Secure
Rural Schools and Counties Act
·
Colusa County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Commission
·
California School Leadership Academy
·
ACSA Business Academy
·
ACSA Personnel Academy
·
Woodland Community College Advisory Committee
·
Colusa Redskins Athletic Foundation Founding
Member
·
Past President, Colusa Rotary Club
·
Past President (2 separate terms) Soroptimist
International of Colusa County (SICC)
·
Treasurer, (2 separate terms) SICC
·
Chair, SICC Committees (numerous years): Women's Opportunity Awards, Candidates Nights
·
President, Theta Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma
Society International (Professional Educators)
·
Past Treasurer, Theta Mu Chapter, DKG
·
Past President, Vice-President, Secretary
(multiple terms) Beta Sigma Phi; current chapter Torchbearer Gamma
·
Chair, Super Seven Dinner, multiple years
Kay’s dedication to this community has touched families far
beyond Colusa County and CCOE will strive to continue her dedication to
community and education for years to come.