12/18/2024 -
Name:
Thuan Pham
Years at SCOE:
I have been working at SCOE for a total of 18 years in four different positions.
Job Title:
External Payroll & Finance Accounting Analyst
How do you describe your job to people outside SCOE?
At SCOE, I work closely with the county and districts, assisting them with multiple cash transactions. I create journals to post funds for the entire county. This includes journal entries for state funds, property taxes, federal grants, monthly apportionments, as well as wire transfers, electronic deposits & transfers, and calculate and pay taxes monthly. It may not sound like a lot of fun. But when you are working in your spreadsheet for hours and you balance at the end, it’s so fulfilling & exciting! LOL
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Kansas. We moved to New Orleans shortly after I was born and then to Houma, Louisiana until I was in 3rd grade. We then moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, until the 6th grade. After that we moved to Cedar Park, Texas, where I graduated high school.
Who was your favorite childhood teacher and why?
My favorite childhood teacher was Ms. Donna Black. She was the best! I met her at the end of my sophomore year of high school, where she encouraged me to take her health class and run for president of a club formerly known as Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). I was elected both my junior and senior year. She believed in me more than I did then. Her goal was to make sure all her students succeeded and achieved their goals. She worked during her lunch and stayed late after school to make sure you understood the curriculum. She checked in on you weekly. She just never missed a beat. She was a teacher every student needed.
What is your favorite thing about SCOE?
My favorite thing about SCOE is knowing that we are all here for the same mission. Working together toward the success of our students. Another favorite thing about SCOE is the relationship that we build with our coworkers, who then become friends.
What is one of your most memorable moments as a SCOE employee?
One of my most memorable moments at SCOE would be working in the classes with Special Education and building that bond with the students and families. Some of them attend or have attended the transition class here at SCOE and it is so heartwarming that some of them remember me. It’s so great to see how much they have learned and grown through the years!
Outside of work, what is your favorite hobby or way to unwind?
If you know me, you know I am always on the go. I don’t know how to sit still. So about every 1.5 - 2 weeks, you can catch me at my dining table with 2 hours to myself, giving myself a manicure. It’s my time to be still, unwind, listen to music, and not hear “mom, I need this and that.”"
Do you have a favorite TV show, movie or book that involves a school setting?
Does “The Blind Side” count? It’s one that I have watched numerous times with my boys. We also like “Freedom Writers,” “The Ron Clark Story,” “Lean on Me,” and “Dangerous Minds.”
What is your favorite place in Sonoma County?
One of my favorite places in Sonoma County is Armstrong Woods. Where the tall trees and sound of the water flowing (when there is some) make all your thoughts of daily responsibilities vanish, and all you can think about is being in that moment. The sound of my boys talking and not fighting as they look for insects and banana slugs while plotting to scare me.
What might people be surprised to learn about you?
People might be surprised to know that before I came to work in education, I obtained my nurse assistant license my junior year of high school. I practiced at an Alzheimer's and dementia facility for about 3.5 years before I switched to education. They might also be surprised to know that I was part of a step team “Alpha Kara High Steppers” in high school.
