 Susan Connolly-FoxAssociate Superintendent
Student Services
(530) 754-1440
Email
| Susan Connolly-Fox is the Associate Superintendent of Student Services and has worked for the Placer County Office of Education since 1997. Ms.
Connolly-Fox began her teaching career working with students with special
needs for the Stanislaus County Office of Education. Additionally, she
worked in a non-public school setting before accepting a position
teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorders for the Placer County
Office of Education.
Ms.
Connolly-Fox also served as a Special Education Coordinator and the
Director of Alternative Education before her current position
overseeing Student Services. Ms. Connolly-Fox holds a Master of Arts in
Special Education from National University and a Bachelor of Science in
Geography from California State University, Stanislaus.
Ms.
Connolly-Fox is a Placer County resident and has made it her home since
1995. Ms. Connolly strives to develop and sustain innovative, high-quality educational programs to meet the diverse needs of students in
our community.
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 Jennifer HicksAssociate Superintendent
Educational Services
(530) 745-1492
Email
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Jennifer Hicks is the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services at the PCOE, where she leads Early Learning, Educational Innovation and Support, Prevention Support Services, and the Leadership and Learning Collaborative. She joined the organization in 2011 and has enjoyed a career spanning classroom teaching to executive leadership. She brings a systems-focused approach to improving student outcomes.
Ms. Hicks is deeply committed to continuous improvement and leverages data-informed practices, cross-departmental collaboration, and integrated systems design to strengthen organizational effectiveness. She is particularly passionate about advancing preventative and proactive services that address student needs early, reduce barriers to access, and promote long-term success. Her work focuses on building sustainable programs that are scalable, coherent, and responsive to the evolving needs of schools and communities. Ms. Hicks holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, Sacramento, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Walden University. She currently serves as a Commissioner for First 5 Placer and as Chair of the California State Board of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission. She is also the Past Chair of the Curricular and Improvement Support Committee for the California County Superintendents and has served on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s Board of Institutional Review. Her contributions to the field have been widely recognized, including being named the 2014 Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Placer County Charter and Region 2 Administrator of the Year for Curriculum and Instruction and receiving the 2022 California County Superintendents Star Award. A Placer County resident, Ms. Hicks is proud to have raised her children in the community, where they graduated from local schools.
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Roger Van PuttenAssociate Superintendent
Business Services
(530) 889-5920
Email
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Roger Van Putten serves as the Associate Superintendent of Business Services for PCOE. He brings more than 29 years of experience in school business leadership with the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District where he held increasing responsible roles and was appointed Chief Business Officer in 2013. Under his financial leadership, the district maintained a fiscally sound, transparent and future-focused financial program. Mr. Van Putten currently serves on the Finance Subcommittee for the School Insurance Group (SIG) and is a board member of the Schools Reinsurance Group. His previous county-wide service includes membership on the Program Business Review Committee and Special Education Funding Committees. He was honored as the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Placer County Charter and Region 2 Business Services Administrator of the Year in 2012. He holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Chico. Deeply rooted in public education, Roger's family shares his passion—his wife is a school counselor, and both of his daughters, graduates of Placer County schools, are now educators themselves. Outside of work, he enjoys cycling and boating with his family. Roger Van Putten's career has been defined by his dedication to public education, strong financial stewardship, and a collaborative approach to leadership. |
 Michelle Eklund, APRChief Communications Officer
(530) 889-5913
Email
| Michelle Eklund, APR is the Chief Communications Officer and began working for PCOE in March 2019. Ms. Eklund is a national award-winning communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, brand management, online community engagement, publication production, design and marketing in a variety of industries ranging from travel and tourism, healthcare, leadership development and education. She previously supported the largest children's advocacy association, California State PTA, as the Assistant Executive Director working to drive improvements in the education, health and well-being of all children and families. Ms. Eklund earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, San Bernardino, and is a member of several professional groups including the California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA), National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO).
In 2021, Ms. Eklund received the "California Gold" award from CalSPRA, and in 2024 she was honored as the Classified Leader of the Year from the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Placer County Charter. Her work has also been recognized nationally, having been awarded a Golden Achievement Award for the "Yours in Education" YouTube series.
Ms. Eklund resides in Placer County and is committed to showcasing the positive impact public education has on all children and families in Placer County.
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