A New Horizon: Ushering in A New Era in Education

Joe Satorhelyi is a tried and true native of the Santa Clarita Valley. After moving to the area when he was in first grade, he set up roots in the community and its educational system, attending schools in the Newhall and Hart High Districts, as well as College of the Canyons later down the line. Joe comes from a family of educators as well – his father was a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and his mother worked locally in the Newhall School District, too.
He points to his parents as part of his inspiration for pursuing a more impactful role in the education world, but that’s just the start of his story. As of this year, Joe has taken on a new role as the Executive Director for the SCV Education Foundation, taking over for Jackie Hartmann after her retirement this past August.
The road ahead is an exciting one for Joe now that he’s in this new position. In addition to his existing involvement in our community, Joe has plans to work closely with teachers in the valley to enhance the educational experiences of all students that SCV services. This will include upcoming events like Touch a Truck, this years Teacher Tribute, and so much more.
“I’m really looking forward to building new relationships in our business community, and throughout the entire valley as a whole,” he says. “Our mission is to foster relationships between businesses, schools, the community, educators, and youth to enrich public school education and promote appreciation for public school education in Santa Clarita.”
That’s what it’s all about for Joe and his team at the foundation. Everything comes down to the connections that are made day in and day out between students, teachers, parents, and SCV residents alike. The foundation serves as a mechanism for bringing together both ends of the public education spectrum to elevate the learning and development of students all throughout the valley.
Joe looks forward to the reentrance of the Read With Me volunteers in SCV classrooms, who work in conjunction with the foundation and schools to assist with student literacy and reading comprehension. Additionally, their Bag of Books program has expanded significantly due to a new Universal TK program recently implemented in the state. New grants and awards recently bestowed upon the foundation have also opened the door to countless new opportunities for growth and development for students of all ages, and Joe is more than ready to tackle his new role and take it even further.
When he’s not at the foundation, Joe is working as an IT Manager for the SCV School food Services Agency, where he’s worked steadily for 15 years. At home, he spends time with his wife, Michelle, and his two kids, both of which attend school within the Hart High School District.
“As my own children have become older and more independent, I’ve had more time to pursue something new, different, and meaningful,” he says. “This position with the foundation has come at the perfect time, and I couldn’t be happier about this opportunity to help my community.”
Joe encourages anyone interested in the foundation and upholding the excellent standards of education and outreach in SCV to visit their website at www.scveducationfoundation.org. There, you’ll find all of their programs, upcoming events, opportunities to volunteer, and ways to get involved with sponsoring and donations.

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