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Byron-Cooper becomes new head of HHSA Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
for as long as Mallot, 42, can remember. “From the age of 5 I played school,” she recalled. “I had a little house outside and it served as both a school and a library … I always wanted to be a teacher.” A 1999 Oak Ridge High School graduate, Mallot and her husband Mike met when they were 15. “We always knew we wanted to get married, but my parents said I should earn a college degree first.” So she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from California State University, Sacramento, on a Friday. “We got married that Sunday!” Mallot said with a smile. “I’ve always known what I wanted to do!” She went on to earn a multiple subject teaching
Interim Health and Human Services Director Olivia Byron-Cooper has been named the official department head for El Dorado County. Byron-Cooper filled the role after the county dismissed previous director Evelyn Schaeffer in December OLIVIA BYRON-COOPER 2022. Before that, Byron-Cooper held various positions for El Dorado County since 2008, including becoming a director of public health, an agency quality improvement manager, program manager and epidemiologist. County leaders praised Byron-Cooper during her public appointment at their Sept. 12 meeting, lauding her leadership during her time as interim director. “Your rapport with staff, your ability to build a team and decision-making done with a team have been demonstrated over and over again, particularly with the navigation center and other challenges,” District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl told the new department head. “What you’ve been able to demonstrate is a lot of adaptability, flexibility and openness to consider things that are a little bit outside of the box sometimes but always bring the team with you.” Byron-Cooper beat 14 other applicants who applied for the position and was interviewed by a panel of people that included Director of Library Services Bryce Lovell, Sheriff Jeff Leikauf and Marshall Medical Center Executive Director of Population Health
■ See PRINCIPAL, page A4
■ See HHSA, page A4
Photo by Julie Samrick
Renee Mallot has begun her new job as principal of Lake Forest Elementary. This year she said she wants to focus on teamwork.
LAKE FOREST PRINCIPAL has deep Rescue roots Julie Samrick Village Life correspondent
L
ifelong El Dorado County resident Dr. Renee Mallot started the school year as Lake Forest Elementary’s new principal. She has not only worked exclusively in the Rescue Union School District since she started teaching 20 years ago, Mallot also attended grades K-8 in the district, being a student at Rescue School, Green Valley Elementary and Marina Village Middle School. “(Former) Lake Forest principal Marilyn Hylton was my third-grade teacher at Green Valley,” Mallot told Village Life from her new office. “Talk about full circle.” The desire to work in education has been strong
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