Contributed content:
Karen Owen was in the middle of employee negotiations in a conference room at the Romoland School District Office as part of her daily responsibilities on Friday.
What she didn’t know was that waiting for her in the board room and school library, respectively, were students, colleagues, family members, board members, superintendents, and Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, who surprised Owen with the news that she is a 2026 Riverside County Educator of the Year.
Each year, Gomez conducts surprise visits to name the seven Riverside County Educators of the Year, who are selected from the more than 40,000 employees serving 430,000 students in more than 500 schools. All honorees will be recognized at the 2026 Celebrating Educators Luncheon, set for May 6,at the Riverside Convention Center.
Owen, the chief business official for the Romoland School District, was named Classified Administrator of the Year.
“Mrs. Owen has led the district to long-term financial stability during rapid changes in growth and student enrollment. This has enabled the district to expand academic programs, led to increased staff compensation and benefits, and sustained essential services without compromising financial health or accountability,” said Gomez. “She has demonstrated exceptional collaborative leadership by mentoring staff, supporting labor relations, and aligning fiscal decisions with LCAP goals and student outcomes.”
“I just have to say that I couldn’t do this without our team and the collaboration with all the other sites and departments, because that is so important,” Owen said after the surprise announcement.
Owen started working as a classified employee in the Business Services Department at Romoland School District 13 years ago, when she was first hired as an Accounting Technician. Since that time, she has also served as a Fiscal Services Supervisor and now serves as the Chief Business Official.
She describes her role as leading with a wide lens—honoring the day-to-day needs of staff while also anticipating future challenges, enrollment shifts, regulatory changes, and community needs. Karen believes in communication that is honest, data-driven, and aligned with long-term planning.
Karen’s impact is described as “fundamentally transforming the district’s ability to serve its rapidly growing student population.” Others describe her “unique ability to recognize potential in others and foster their growth through encouragement, constructive feedback, and opportunities to expand their skill sets.”
Karen holds an associate’s degree in social/behavioral science and multiple professional development certificates. She is a resident of San Jacinto.
