County
Robert Rivas named CCBE Legislator of the Year
CCBE recently presented its 2020 Outstanding Legislator Award to Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) of the 30th Assembly District for his leadership in working to improve California’s public schools and his support of local school board governance.
For the last several years, CCBE has annually bestowed a Legislator of the Year Award upon one or more state or federal lawmakers who have been actively involved in legislation or activities supporting the work of county offices of education and their programs.
Rivas said he was honored to receive the award. “Education is personal to me. I came from a family of educators –– both my mom and aunt are teachers in Assembly District 30 –– and prior to becoming an assemblymember, I worked as an adjunct professor at Gavilan College. This is an incredibly difficult job, made more complicated by inadequate funding and a lack of teachers. I’m proud of my accomplishments to increase funding for schools and combat the teacher shortage. I look forward to continuing to support educators and students, especially during this unprecedented period in our state’s history.”
Pictured from left to right: Monterey County Superintendent Deneen Guss, student Christopher Wohlgemuth, Assemblymember Robert Rivas, CCBE Immediate Past President and Monterey County BOE Trustees Janet Wohlgemuth and John McPherson.
Among the many education accomplishments that earned Rivas the award are:
- Proposed the Golden State Teacher Grant program (Assembly Bill 1623), which was adopted in the 2019–20 budget;
- Obtained a $5 million grant for building the Salinas Soccer complex, which contributes to the overall health and wellness of the community’s youth;
- Authored the Farmworker Housing Act of 2019 (AB 1783), which was a response to the homelessness crisis facing many California students;
- Facilitated opportunities for local youth to interact with other prominent government officials and meet activist Dolores Huerta;
- Named retired educator Evelia Morales as Assembly District 30’s Woman of the Year; and
- Brought Assembly Education Committee Chair Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) and several other legislators, public officials and stakeholders to tour the state-of-the-art facilities and programs at San Benito High School.