Meet the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients!

ATHENA Awards honor women who excel in their dedication to their business or profession as well as their commitment to community. Young ATHENA award nominees must be younger than 40 by October 1 of the award year.

HERLIFE Magazine is pleased to introduce our readers to two well-deserving women who are this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award recipients.

Jane Steinkamp, ATHENA Leadership Award Recipient
Jane Steinkamp currently serves as the assistant superintendent of education services at the San Joaquin County Office of Education. For more than three decades, she has been a recognized and respected leader in education at local, county and state levels.

During her career, Jane has not only led but pioneered many innovative education programs for teachers, students and our community. She has been a catalyst for SJCOE’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program, helping it become the largest STEM department in
the state.

In addition, Jane oversees the Teacher’s College of San Joaquin, or TCSJ, a regionally accredited institution providing resources to those seeking a career in education. During the pandemic, Jane was a pivotal force behind creating a successful transition from classroom instruction to virtual learning. She understood what educational materials would be needed for teachers, parents and students, and swiftly made it happen by forming a team of experts who created the virtual LOCkER, or Learning Outside the Classroom Enrichment Resources. The LOCkER provides educators of all grade levels with mental health resources, videos and activities. Among her many achievements, in 2021 Jane played a key role in the launch of TEACH! Under the TEACH! program, at little to no cost, students can graduate with a high school diploma and an associate of arts degree in elementary teacher education. Upon completing their bachelor’s degree, students have the opportunity to earn a teaching credential from TCSJ.

For her unwavering dedication to science education and her leadership role in carrying out the statewide rollouts of the California Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS, Jane has received recognition from the California Science Teachers Association and National Science Education Leadership Association. With an emphasis on collaboration and shared learning, the NGSS, with the help of Jane’s vision, has implemented a new model of professional development and education standards. Jane believes, “Despite the sometimes-negative national narrative about public education, education is thriving. There are many success stories that should be championed across the nation and throughout San Joaquin County. I believe in our educators and in our students. Together, we can and will continue
to improve.”
Among her many local and statewide leadership positions, Jane is at present a member of the TCSJ Governance Committee; one.Charter board; State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Environmental Literacy Steering Committee; California Department of Education’s Standards Implementation Steering Committee; CA NGSS Collaborative Statewide Rollout Executive Committee; Bechtel Community of Practice Steering Committee; and Region 7 ACSA Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability Council. In addition, she has served as president of the San Joaquin Educational Foundation
since 2012.

Equally as impressive as her accomplishments in education is Jane’s tireless commitment to our community. She both encourages and inspires others, particularly her SJCOE family, to become involved in Greater Chamber of Commerce programs such as Leadership Stockton and the Green Team San Joaquin.

Perhaps making the most impact of all of Jane’s achievements was her role in leading the SJCOE COVID-19 vaccine clinics. With Jane’s guidance and the assistance of 300 volunteers, 25,822 doses of vaccine were distributed. This represented a collaboration of epic proportions. The clinic garnered state and national recognition and helped contribute to educators and students returning to the classrooms.

Jane is a devout advocate for women in our area. About her ATHENA award, Jane stated, “I am very grateful to be able to shed light on all the amazing women in educational leadership in our county.” Jane is a mentor, supporter and friend. In 2020, she organized the Women Together network and hosted its first annual conference. She also created YOUniversity, a professional development program that is now a proven model for growth and promotion
within SJCOE.

“To be recognized for doing work that I love is an honor, but to be recognized as an ATHENA is truly the honor of a lifetime.” A dedicated mother of two, Jane loves what she does, and it shows.

Jamie Boussuat, ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award Recipient
Jamie Boussuat is a local attorney who was raised to give back, and she has certainly done that. This amazing mother of two young children has an illustrious record of service in the legal field as well as in our community.

In 2013, Jamie joined the Stockton firm Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson as an associate attorney. Her focus has been in the area of business litigations and transactions and employment representation. Since 2019, she’s been a shareholder with Kroloff and is actively involved in all facets of the corporation.

Jamie’s steady ascent began in 2005 when she earned her BA in political science from University of San Diego and completed her juris doctor degree, cum laude, from Hastings College of Law.
At Hastings, Jamie was a member and, later, executive editor of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly. She served as a judicial extern for the California Court of Appeal, 6th District, in San Jose. Once she earned her law license, Jamie became a volunteer attorney for the Legal Aid Society Employment Law Center in the Bay Area, where she supervised law students and represented employees at administrative hearings. She was also a volunteer attorney for the Pro Bono Project in San Jose, providing counsel on legal matters to individuals. She served as an associate attorney assisting employees in diverse employment issues.

Always mindful of her community, in 2013, Jamie became an active member of the board of directors for Pixie Woods, Inc., and played an essential role in its largest fundraiser, the annual Pixie Wood Wine Tasting event.

Jamie understands collaboration and teamwork. She was a member of Leadership Stockton, Class of 2015. She and other class members worked together in achieving the renovation of the McKinley Community Center. At MCC, Stockton youth gather for sports and games while working together and learning to focus on the positives in their lives. Leadership Stockton was a perfect fit for Jamie, as it is a program that allows its members to gain knowledge of Stockton’s community affairs in order to help promote future leaders for our community.

Continuing her commitment to our area, Jamie served on the Stockton Parks and Recreation Commission, including the position of chair in 2018. Jamie worked resolutely with other commissioners toward the goal of improving our parks for the children and residents of Stockton. In 2019, she joined the board of directors for the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as executive board vice president. In her role with the chamber, Jamie provides our local business community with current employment law information crucial to staying compliant.

During the pandemic, Jamie played an integral part in keeping Stocktonians informed of the ever-changing COVID-19 regulations. During a truly tumultuous time, Jamie successfully navigated the online platform to fill a need for the distribution of critical and timely information for employers. She hosted informative webinars and today she remains an invaluable resource for businesses in our community.

Among Jamie’s other leadership roles, she is an active member and current vice president of legislative affairs for the San Joaquin Society for Human Resources; mentor for all new lawyers in her firm, as well all those in the legal community; and chair for the San Joaquin County Bar Association Women’s Lawyers Section committee.

For her contributions to the legal community, Jamie was named Outstanding Young Lawyer by the San Joaquin County Bar Association in 2016. In 2020, she received the Young Professional of the Year award from the Chamber, recognizing her COVID-19 and employer resource webinars. Regarding her latest award, she said, “It is a huge honor to receive the Young ATHENA Award. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have the support of my family and colleagues who allow me to pursue my own career and contribute to our community.”

Fortunately for our community, while Jamie has resided in other areas, it’s clear her heart is at home in San Joaquin County. “The people here are amazing. There is a sense of community and commitment that I have not experienced other places I have lived.”

Congratulations to both of these accomplished and well-deserving women! The 2022 ATHENA Award ceremony will be held November 17th at 11:30 a.m. at the Stockton Golf and Country Club. Tickets for this event are $50, available online at stocktonchamber.org/athena-awards.