County to name teachers of the year
The Modesto Rotary Club and the Stanislaus County Office of Education will honor the 2015 Stanislaus County teacher of the year finalists and announce the selection of four as 2015 Stanislaus County teachers of the year on May 5.
Teachers were nominated by their principals, and finalists were selected from 78 nominees representing 17 school districts in Stanislaus County. A selection committee, composed of local Rotarians and educators, narrowed the nominations through a paper screening process and then visited the classrooms of 24 semifinalists before narrowing it down to 12 finalists – three each in four grade levels.
The four selected as teachers of the year will each receive a $1,000 award from the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation and a $700 Nasco gift card. The Jane Johnson Civility Award, with a $1,000 award, will be presented to one of the 12 in honor of former SCOE Assistant Superintendent Jane Johnston, who helped launch the countywide Choose Civility Initiative in 2010.
This is the 17th year that the Modesto Rotary and SCOE have joined to honor teachers in Stanislaus County. Two of the four teachers of the year will be selected, through an interview process, to represent Stanislaus County in the state teacher of the year program.
“A good teacher inspires students, ignites imaginations and instills a love of learning,” said County Superintendent Tom Changnon. “It is truly an honor to partner with the Rotary to recognize these outstanding teachers – each who helps inspire and shape the lives of young students in our county on a daily basis.”
2015 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
These teachers were chosen from among 78 nominees. Four will be selected as Stanislaus County teachers of the year, and two of those four will go on to represent Stanislaus County at the state level.
KINDERGARTEN-THIRD GRADE: Sarah Curry at Summit Charter in Ceres Unified; Lori Guyll at Cloverland Elementary in Oakdale Joint Unified; Elizabeth Pannell at Beaver Elementary in Ceres Unified
FOURTH-SIXTH GRADE: Penny Bartholomew at California Avenue Elementary in Riverbank Unified; Andrea Fuentes at Orchard Elementary in Sylvan Union; Matthew Weinheimer at Hughes Elementary in Empire Union
MIDDLE SCHOOL: Aimee Hirsch at Mae Hensley in Ceres Unified; Dan Leitner at Blaker-Kinser in Ceres Unified; Jevon Swanson at Prescott Senior Elementary in Stanislaus Union
HIGH SCHOOL: Helen Aleksani at Waterford High in Waterford Unified; Stephen Dias at Ceres High in Ceres Unified; Richard Jones at Del Puerto High in Patterson Joint Unified
This story was originally published April 30, 2015 at 10:27 PM with the headline "County to name teachers of the year."