Quick Links

• About the Teacher of the Year Program
• CCTV Broadcast Dates
• Donating to the Teacher of the Year Program
• List of Donors
• Congratulations to Dr. Rona Zollinger and the 2012 District Teachers of the Year Bay Area News Group, November 25, 2012 (PDF)
• Past Teachers of the Year
  2011-2012
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  2007-2008
  Prior Years
• Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year (PDF)

 

2012-2013 Contra Costa County
District Teacher of the Year Representatives

2012-2013 County
Teacher of the Year

Dr. Rona Zollinger Martinez Unified School District Vicente Martinez High

 

2012-2013 County Teacher of the Year Finalists

Mona Keeler San Ramon Valley USD Iron Horse Middle

Terryl Miller Moraga SD Los Perales Elementary

Dr. Rona Zollinger Martinez USD Vicente Martinez High

2012-2013 District Teachers of the Year

Vanesa Arreola-Navarro Pittsburg USD Foothill Elementary	Dan Auza John Swett USD Carquinez Middle	Michael Buchel Acalanes UHSD Acalanes High
Kim Burris Orinda USD all five OUSD Schools	Erin Carson Walnut Creek SD Indian Valley Elementary	Marina Chinchilla Knightsen ESD Knightsen Elementary
Kathy DeRenzi San Ramon Valley USD Quail Run Elementary	Rochelle Gardiner Oakley Union Elementary SD Vintage Parkway Elementary	Heather Harper Liberty UHSD Freedom High
Joshua Hastings West Contra Costa USD Richmond High	William Hyres CCCOE Golden Gate Community School Rodeo	Mona Keeler San Ramon Valley USD Iron Horse Middle
Kevin Lindell Byron USD Excelsior Middle	Cynthia McGrath Los Medanos College Contra Costa Community College District	Terryl Miller Moraga SD Los Perales Elementary
Naomi Phillips Brentwood USD Edna Hill Middle	Mona Lisa Ricard Mt. Diablo USD Sequoia Elementary	Tracey Singh-Poole West Contra Costa USD DeAnza High
Mette Thallaug Lafayette SD Burton Valley Elementary	Stacey Wickware Antioch USD Dozier-Libbey Medical High	Dr. Rona Zollinger Martinez USD Vicente Martinez High

Note regarding eligible participants:

• Seventeen of the eighteen Contra Costa County school districts represented (plus 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. This year, it is Los Mendanos College's turn. (These instructors do not compete in the State Teacher of the Year competition.)
• Due to the larger number of students in their districts, West Contra Costa USD, Mt. Diablo USD, and San Ramon Valley USD are allowed to select two TOY candidates. (This year, Mt. Diablo USD only submitted one District TOY.)

 

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About the Teachers of the Year Program

In 1972, California began recognizing outstanding teachers, establishing the Teachers of the Year Program. This program is open to all teachers in public & private schools who teacher pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Contra Costa County has participated in the program since its beginning, when Joseph E. Davis, Jr., of the Acalanes Union High School District, was named the county's first representative.

Since that time, four teachers from this county have been State finalists: Janet Neill, San Ramon Valley Unified (1975); David Eakin, John Swett Unified (1981); William Thomas, Mt. Diablo Unified (1982); and Janice Bergamini, Mt. Diablo Unified (1991). In addition, William Pence, San Ramon Valley Unified (1999), was selected to represent California at the National Teacher of the Year level. And, in the last two years, the County has had two other state representatives – Mary Allan, Antioch Unified (2001) and Janet Gower, Mt. Diablo Unified (2002). For a list of all of the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Representatives please click here.

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 candidate as follows:

I Application Screening:

On April 13, a committee of 13, representing the county’s education, business, and public-sector partners meticulously reviewed the applications submitted by the school districts. This committee independently rated each application. After the application screening and scoring were completed, five teachers were selected to advance to the next phase as semifinalists.

II Classroom Observation and Interview:

During the upcoming weeks of late April and early May, a small committee of education specialists and business partners will observe the semifinalists interacting with their students. Immediately following, the committee interviews the candidates, discussing topics such as their teaching philosophy and techniques. The results of the two screening processes are then combined to determine the three finalists. (The three finalists will be announced in late May.)

III Speech Presentation:

This coming August, the three 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 20, 2012, all 21 TOYs, accompanied by their families, friends, and co-workers (an audience of approximately 400) will be honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Dinner Celebration, held at the Hilton Concord. Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Joseph A. Ovick, Ed.D., who serves as master of ceremonies, introduces the TOYs by sharing a special story that reflects his classroom visits of each teacher during the recent spring and summer months. This will be followed by the three finalists giving their three- to five-minute speeches (same speeches given in August) to the filled banquet room. The excitement-filled evening will come to a dramatic close with the announcement of the 2012-2013 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year.

The County representative is announced at the Awards Dinner in September at a gala affair that honors each district's Teacher of the Year. Local business and community organizations generously donate classroom grants, services and other items to each of the district winners.

Learn more about donating to the Teacher of the Year program.

Visionaries Chevron Comcast Contra Costa County Office of Education Contra Costa Newspapers, Inc. Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation   Benefactors Allegro Copy and Print Brandman University C. Overaa and Company California Symphony Center REP/Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts George Miller Youth Foundation Kaiser Permanente KNN Public Finance Phillips 66 Shell Oil Products U.S./Martinez Refinery Travis Credit Union USS POSCO Industries

Sponsors ACSA Region 6 Broadway Plaza Shopping Center Dow Chemical Company Keenan & Associates Mechanics Bank Mt. Diablo Recyclying   Contributors Richard Asadoorian and Barbara Cowen Val and Patty Castro Chabot Space and Science Center Diablo Vista Retired Teachers’ Association Hilton Concord Office Depot Pleasant Hill Florist Susan Stuart & Associates Trinity Media, Inc.