Contra Costa County’s school districts announce their 2016-2017 Teachers of the Year

There are currently, approximately 8,401 teachers educating more than 174,800 students in Contra Costa County’s public schools. To recognize their efforts and bring much-deserved honor to the teaching profession, the participating school districts in the county recently named their Teachers of the Year (TOY) representatives. (See list below.)

The upcoming school year’s 21 TOYs represent 16 Contra Costa County school districts, the Contra Costa Community College District, and the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE). Most of these representatives, those who teach grades K thru 12, are eligible to compete in the Contra Costa County TOY competition. The two top teachers in the county TOY program will represent Contra Costa County in the California State TOY Program this coming fall.

“We are immensely proud of these amazing educators,” said Karen Sakata, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools. “They were thoughtfully chosen to represent their schools and districts, and truly represent what is best about public education.”

Now in her 30th year of teaching, McGuire began her career in 1985.  She taught in the Oakland Unified School District for seven years, then moved to Antioch, where she’s been teaching for the past 23 years.  Most of them have been spent at Sutter Elementary, but she did work at John Muir Elementary for five years.

McGuire received a Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio State University and her Master’s Degree from Cal State Hayward (now East Bay).

“I am currently taking classes at Los Medanos College because I believe in life-long learning,” she said. “I enjoy getting to build meaningful relationships with my students and their families.  In some cases, all of the children in a family have come through my classroom.  As a member of the community, I like seeing students and former students outside the school setting at sporting events or around town.”

“I believe in educating the whole child, by helping them grow socially, as well as academically,” McGuire added.

The county’s TOY program is directed by the CCCOE. With such a high caliber of teaching professionals to draw from, the CCCOE’s TOY program uses a three-stage selection process, with a point and percentage system to determine the final candidates as follows:

I Application Screening:

On April 8, a committee of 15 judges, representing the county’s education, business, and public-sector partners will carefully review the applications submitted by the school districts. This committee independently rates each application. After the application screening and scoring are completed, four teachers will be selected to advance to the next two phases as finalists.

II Classroom Observation and Interview:

In April and May, a small committee of education specialists and business partners observe the four finalists interacting with their students. Immediately following, the committee interviews the candidates discussing topics such as their teaching philosophy and techniques.

III Speech Presentation:

On August 15, the four TOY finalists will each give a three- to five-minute speech to another panel of a dozen educators, business, and public-sector representatives who will judge the finalists on their speech and presentation skills.

On the evening of September 22, 2016, all 21 TOYs, accompanied by their families, friends, and co-workers (an audience of close to 400) will be honored at the annual Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Dinner Celebration, held at the Hilton Concord. Ms. Sakata, who serves as master of ceremonies, introduces the TOYs by sharing a special story that reflects her classroom visits of each teacher during the current spring and summer months. This will be followed by the four finalists giving their three- to five-minute speeches (same speeches given in August) to the filled banquet room. Finally, the night will come to a dramatic close with the announcement of the two 2016-2017 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year.

2016-2017 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Representatives:

Vicki McGuire, Antioch Unified School District, Sutter Elementary, Fifth Grade

Jamie Cackler Bennetts, Knightsen Elementary School District, Knightsen Elementary

Cynthia Boyko, Acalanes Union High School District, Miramonte High

Rachael Byron, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Dougherty Valley High

Krystal Figaroa, Pittsburg Unified School District, Stoneman Elementary

Erin Flanigan, Martinez Unified School District, Alhambra High

Daniel Yoshio Haley, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, El Dorado Middle

Shauna Hawes, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Valley View Middle

Judy Jernigan, Lafayette School District, Lafayette SD Schools

Kristyn Loy, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Stewart Elementary

Judy Mazur, Walnut Creek School District, Buena Vista Elementary

Aminta Mickles, Contra Costa Community College District, Contra Costa College

Gina Minder-Maldonado, Oakley Union Elementary School District, Oakley Elementary

Dayle Okamitsu, Orinda Union School District, Wagner Ranch Elementary

Lawrence Pang, West Contra Costa Unified School District, El Cerrito High

Deborah Guillén Rocchild, John Swett Unified School District, John Swett High

Summer Rodriguez, Liberty Union High School District, Liberty High

Joyce Rooks, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Creekside Elementary

Juliet Simens, Brentwood Union School District, Pioneer Elementary

Angela Taylor, Contra Costa County Office of Education, Parole Education Program Oakland Computerized Literacy Learning Center

Sarah Vieira, Byron Union School District, Timber Point Elementary

Note regarding eligible participants:

• Sixteen of the eighteen Contra Costa County school districts represented, and the CCCOE are participating in this year’s TOY program.
• Each year, one instructor from Contra Costa Community College District is submitted to the TOY program for his/her outstanding body of work with their designated college. The colleges rotate each year between Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, and Contra Costa. (These instructors do not compete in the State Teacher of the Year competition.) This year is Contra Costa College’s turn.
• Due to the larger number of students and teachers in their districts, West Contra Costa USD, Mt. Diablo USD, and San Ramon Valley USD are allowed to submit two TOY candidates.

Follow Contra Costa County’s Teacher of the Year program on Twitter: #CoCoTOY

Can make appointment at next meeting on April 20th if Board chooses

The Board of Education of the Antioch Unified School District Board of Education is seeking applications to fill a vacancy on the Board caused by the resignation of Claire Smith on April 1, 2016.  Board members will use the following process to appoint an individual to complete Mrs. Smith’s term, which expires December 2016.

Remaining Term of Office:  June 2016 – December 2016

Requirements for Office:

• At least 18 years of age
• Resident of Antioch Unified School District
• Registered voter
• United States citizen
• Not disqualified by the U.S. Constitution or state law from holding a civil office

Application Process: 

To secure an application, visit the District’s website at www.antioch.k12.ca.us or pick up an application at the School Services Building, located at 510 G Street, Antioch by April 20, 2016 by 12:00 p.m. The District office is open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Timeline:

• Completed applications must be received in the Superintendent’s Office no later than 12:00 p.m. April 20, 2016.  Neither postmarks nor late delivery will be accepted.
• Board of Education will interview candidates in a public meeting called by the Board.  The following date and time has been set aside for interviews:  May 4, 2016 between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• The new Board Member will be sworn in at the regular Board of Education meeting on June 8, 2016.

If you should have any questions, please call (925) 779-7500 ext. 51000.

However, the Board can make an appointment at their next meeting on Wednesday, April 20.

“Under a provisional appointment, they can do the process like they did for Mr. Navarro,” according to Nancy Belleci, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. “They can do anything they want. But, they have to wait 30 days before the new member can take their seat.”

“At the last meeting during the discussion the Board determined they want to revise interview questions and the tally process,” she added.

Notice:  This appointment is provisional and subject to the petition process specified in California Education Code 5092.

According to a Facebook post on the Antioch Unified School District’s page on Tuesday, April 5, “Deer Valley High School is the recipient of the CAPP Demonstration Partnership Extension Grant which highlights promising practice in the field of mathematics.

The grant totals $80,000.00 and will allow the school to continue sharing best practices related to a pilot mathematics program they wish to expand over the next two years. The grant will also help increase and build upon the secondary partnerships the school is building with local colleges and universities.

Deer Valley teachers Maria McClain, Carrie Hurtado, and Tammy Ely-Kofford – along with counselor Ruth Whittington have been instrumental in designing and implementing this promising program.”

According to a post on the Antioch Unified School District’s Facebook page on Tuesday, April 5, “Students at Marsh Elementary once again participated in the Pennies for Patients Fundraising Program organized by teacher, Michelle Reece. The program is designed to help students better understand how they can help others in the fight against Leukemia and other blood cancers.

According to Principal Crystal Berry, ‘By participating, our students have learned the importance of being caring citizens and how much of an impact they can make on others in our world. They’ve also learned the power of leadership, teamwork, philanthropy, and what doing for others truly means.’

This year alone, Marsh students exceeded their goal of raising $1,500.00! Way to go Marsh Tigers!”

By Allen Payton

The Antioch School Board has to fill another vacancy with the recent resignation of Claire Smith.

This is the second time the Board members have had to fill a board  position in less than a year. Last fall, after Barbara Cowan resigned with a little more than a year left in her term, the Board appointed Fernando Navarro to the empty seat.

During the appointment process, the person to receive the second most votes was Julie Young, who attends almost all school board meetings.

She is very knowledgeable about the issues and can hit the ground running, should she be appointed.

The Board is in the midst of searching for a new superintendent. They need a full, five-member board to help in making the decision.

If the Board goes through another appointment process to fill the current vacancy, it could take another month or two to do so, and then the new member wouldn’t be seated until a month after that. The Board is wanting to hire a new superintendent by June.

It makes sense to appoint Young at their next meeting so there will be a complete board for the hiring decision.

Students from two of Antioch Unified School District’s Elementary schools will showcase their original artwork at the Lynn House Gallery April 6th – 23rd. The exhibit is open to the public at no cost. There will be a reception on Wednesday, April 6th from 4-5:30 PM for students, their parents and the public. The exhibit continues through April 23rd on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 PM. Please join us as we celebrate these talented young people.

The Arts4Schools Program is sponsored by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, the City of Antioch, Cal Pine and Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund Grant from Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover. In addition to sponsoring the gallery exhibit, the grant provides $500 to each participating school to be used for art and cultural supplies and educational endeavors.

For more information about each exhibit call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897 or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org. The Lynn House Gallery is located in the Rivertown District at 809 W. 1st Street, Antioch (across from the AMTRAK Train Station) and is open from 1 – 4 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays during exhibits and admission is free.

The University of Wyoming announced it has accorded a Bachelor of Arts degree upon Antioch resident Troy Lamonte Boyland, Jr. at the completion of the 2015 fall semester.

Boyland was a double major in both criminal justice and social sciences, and played offensive guard on the Wyoming Cowboys football team on a full scholarship. He is originally from San Francisco, but has been living in Antioch for the past three years.

The University of Wyoming provides quality undergraduate and graduate programs to 13,800 students from all 50 states and 94 countries. Established in 1886, UW is a nationally recognized research institution with accomplished faculty and world class facilities. Offering 200 areas of study, UW provides an environment for success. A low student faculty ratio allows for individual instruction and attention, and undergraduates often participate in cutting edge research projects.

For more information about the University of Wyoming, visit www.uwyo.edu.