ABOUT THE TEACHER 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 schools who teach pre-kindergarten through college. 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, eight 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); Janice Bergamini, Mt. Diablo Unified (1991); Shauna Hawes, Mt. Diablo Unified (2017); and Kelly Perkins (Mt. Diablo Unified (2019). The County has had four State winners: Mary Allan, Antioch Unified (2001); Janet Gower, Mt. Diablo Unified (2002); and William Pence, San Ramon Valley Unified (1999); and Rosie Reid, Mt. Diablo Unified (2019). Both William Pence and Rosie Reid were selected to represent California at the National Teacher of the Year level.
List of past Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Representatives from 1977 to present (PDF)
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 12, a committee representing the county's education, business, and public-sector partners will meticulously 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 phase as semifinalists.
II Classroom Observation and Interview:
In April/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 four finalists.
III Speech Presentation:
On July 24, 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 26, 2019, all 22 TOYs, accompanied by their families, friends, and co-workers (an audience of approximately 450) will be honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Gala Dinner, held at the Hilton Concord. Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey, who serves as master of ceremonies, introduces the TOYs by sharing a special story that reflects her classroom visits of each teacher during the recent spring and summer months. This will be followed by the four finalists giving their three- to five-minute speeches (same speeches given in July) to the filled banquet room. The excitement-filled evening will come to a dramatic close with the announcement of the 2019-2020 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year.
The County representatives are 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.
HONOR OUR TEACHERS: DONATE TO THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR PROGRAM
There are four major categories or levels for donating to the TOY Program:
Title Sponsor -- Chevron USA ($10,000)
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Visionaries: $5,000 to $9,999 range (2 complimentary tickets to the Gala dinner)
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Benefactors: $1,000 to $4,999 range
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Sponsors: $500 to $999 range
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Contributors: $499 or below in amount or services
Most sponsors earmark their grants for the teachers' classrooms or schools; Chevron, Inc. sponsors the dinner itself, and the cost of dinner for each of the Teachers of the Year and three of their guests, in addition to $5,000 towards classroom grant distributed amongst the Teachers of the Year.
Many thanks to our generous donors who made our program a success!
Chevron, Title Sponsor
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Visionaries
Contra Costa County Office of Education
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
Saint Mary's College of California, Kalmanovitz School of Education
Wells Fargo Bank
   
Benefactors
Allegro Copy and Print
Bay Area Newspaper Group
C. Overaa and Company
Center REP/Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts
Dannis, Woliver and Kelley Attorneys at Law
Fagen, Friedman and Fulfrost, LLP
Gillin Jacobson, Ellis, Larsen and Lucey
Accident Attorneys
John Muir Health
Kaiser Permanente
McGraw Hill
Mechanics Bank
The Oakland Athletics
Phillips 66
Shell Martinez Refinery
Sunset Development Company
Travis Credit Union
University of California, Berkeley Intercollegiate Athletics
USS POSCO Industries
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Sponsors
ACSA Region 6
Barrett Rodda, Short Story Films
Carlos Reyes
Denalect Alarm
Keenan & Associates
Mike and Shari Maxwell
Office Depot
Pleasant Hill Rotary Foundation
Contributors
1st Northern California Credit Union
Capitol Advisors
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer
Cole Supply Company, Inc.
Contra Costa County School Insurance Group
Hilton Concord
Lakeshore Learning
Lozano Smith
O'Conner, Runckel, and O'Malley, LLP
Packaging Options USA
Peet's Coffee, Pleasant Hill
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