Four remarkable leaders. Four different paths. One bright group of STARS.
We’re thrilled to introduce the 2026 STARS honorees—four remarkable individuals whose accomplishments, leadership and service reflect the lasting impact of San Juan Unified schools and educators.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Aomboon Deasy and Mark Hoffmann will be inducted into the STARS Hall of Fame, while longtime San Juan Unified educator Shannan Brown will receive the Legacy STARS Award.
All four will be celebrated at An Evening with the STARS on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Northridge Country Club.
Kevin McCarty
Kevin McCarty attended Cameron Ranch Elementary and El Camino High School and today serves as the 57th Mayor of Sacramento. A lifelong Sacramentan, his decades of public service—including ten years each on the Sacramento City Council and in the California State Assembly—reflect a career committed to strengthening his community and expanding educational opportunity.
Aomboon Deasy
A 1994 El Camino High School graduate, Aomboon Deasy has built a remarkable career spanning agriculture, finance and hospitality. A second-generation leader of K&J Orchards, she is also proprietor and finance director of Michelin-recognized Pomet restaurant in Oakland and Treasurer of Foodwise, the nonprofit steward of San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.
Mark Hoffmann
Mark Hoffmann attended Mira Loma High School and is the founder and owner of Sports Leisure Vacations. A nationally recognized travel industry leader, Hoffmann is the only two-time past president/chairman of the National Tour Association, a recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, and a longtime supporter of nonprofit organizations throughout the Sacramento region.
Shannan Brown — Legacy STARS Award
Shannan Brown began her career as a San Juan Unified classroom teacher in 1999 and today serves as Executive Director of the San Juan Teachers Association. With more than 25 years in education, Brown was named San Juan and Sacramento County Teacher of the Year in 2010 and California Teacher of the Year in 2011 and has become a respected leader in educational policy, professional development and educator leadership.
Vera Vaccaro — Bryan McKrell Shining STARS Award
Vera Vaccaro dedicated 37 years to education, coaching and youth development, including serving as a physical education teacher at Mesa Verde High School and Principal of Del Campo High School. Her commitment to young people and her community has continued well beyond her career through service with the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael and four years on the San Juan Education Foundation Board of Directors.
“These honorees show our students just how many different paths an extraordinary life can take. They are public servants, entrepreneurs, educators and community leaders who have used their talents to make a difference for others. That’s exactly what STARS is about.”
— Baelee Zieher, Board Chair, San Juan Education Foundation
Celebrating Our STARS. Investing in What’s Next.
Established in 2009, the STARS Hall of Fame honors exceptional individuals with roots in San Juan Unified who exemplify what it means to be Service-Oriented, Trailblazing, Accomplished Role Models Who Shine Bright. The Legacy STARS Award recognizes former San Juan Unified educators whose service and influence have created a lasting legacy, while the Shining Star Award recognizes individuals whose extraordinary service and commitment have made a meaningful difference for San Juan Unified students and the greater community.
But An Evening with the STARS is about more than celebrating where our STARS have gone—it’s about investing in where today’s students can go next.
As the San Juan Education Foundation’s signature fundraising event, the evening raises critical funds for grants, scholarships and programs that expand opportunities for San Juan Unified students and educators. During the 2025–26 school year alone, SJEF invested nearly $250,000 through PROPEL Grants and ACHIEVE Scholarships.
Join us October 9 to celebrate this extraordinary class of STARS—and help create opportunities for the next generation.