Binford honored as January Employee of the Month

It is with pleasure that the Fresno County Office of Education honor's Erin Binford, a Paraeducator II in the Special Education Department, as the January 2016 Employee of the Month.

Erin is a person who never feels the need to be acknowledged for the wonderful job that she does. She is an excellent collaborator who takes the initiative to ensure things get done because she loves what she is doing.

Erin makes a huge impact on the Adult Transition Program students she works with and anyone can see the special bond they share. She will take time away from her own family so that her students can experience new places or new things.

“I love my students. They are my life,” she said.

Erin encourages her students to gain independence and confidence while always being there to reassure and comfort them when needed. Erin especially enjoys taking her students to Vons for worksite experience in the bakery three days a week. Students do a variety of tasks from packaging bread and cookies to cleaning.

Every day, Erin comes to work with a positive attitude that is so infectious she can make any student smile. She participates in the sign language choir with students, a crowd favorite at the annual ATP graduation in May.

“I’m learning sign language with my students. By engaging them, it helps them learn, too,” said Erin.

Outside of work, Erin is a boot camp exercise beast, working out most mornings at 4:30 a.m. She ran her first half-marathon last year and plans more. Erin is also the busy mom of 6-year-old son, Isaiah, with her husband, Craig.

“My co-workers are great. I’m blessed to work with them,” said Erin of her colleagues, teacher Karen west and paraeducator Jennifer Eden. “We truly work as a team.”