PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – Recently, the school districts in Contra Costa County proudly submitted their 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year (TOY) candidates to the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE). The newly honored teachers are not only recognized for their outstanding education achievements, but they also represent the approximately 8,600 teachers educating more than 177,000 students in Contra Costa County’s public schools.
Currently, the upcoming school year’s 22 TOYs represent 17 (of 18) Contra Costa County school districts, the Contra Costa Community College District, and the Contra Costa County Office of Education. 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 extremely proud of the Teachers of the Year, Class of 2020-2021,” reports Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey. “When you review their TOY applications and their heartfelt letters of recommendation, it is quite evident that these teachers were thoughtfully selected to represent their schools and school districts, while at the same time truly embody what is best about public education in Contra Costa County.”
The county’s TOY program is coordinated by the CCCOE, and the judging usually combines a three-stage selection process, with a point and percentage system to determine the final candidates. But due to the Covid-19 emergency, this year’s selection process is the following:
I Application Screening:
During the weeks of April 27-May 8, a committee of 15 judges, representing the county’s education, business, and public-sector partners carefully reviewed the TOY representative applications submitted by their school districts. This committee independently read and rated each application, privately from their homes or offices. After the application screening and scoring are completed, four teachers will be selected to advance to the next two phases as finalists. The four finalists are expected to be announced on Thursday, May 14.
II Interview:
On, or around, May 28, a small committee of education specialists and former Teachers of the Year will interview the candidates separately and online, discussing topics such as their teaching philosophy and techniques.
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.
Announcement of the two 2020-2021 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year will take place at the tentatively planned Teacher of the Year Dinner Gala, to be held at the Hilton Concord on September 24th, pending the COVID-19 Shelter in Place directive from county health.
2020-2021 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Representatives:
- Marlene Miranda, Acalanes Union High School District, Las Lomas High School
- Robert Vieria, Antioch Unified School District, Antioch Middle School
- Karen Neilson, Brentwood Union School District, Garin Elementary School
- Jennifer Krey Byron Union School District, Excelsior Middle School
- Thomas Barber, Contra Costa Community College District, Diablo Valley College
- Ellyn Hustead, Contra Costa County Office of Education, Mt. McKinley School
- Kellyn M. Jew, John Swett Unified School District, Rodeo Hills Elementary School
- Shirley Ann Padgett, Knightsen Elementary School District, Knightsen Elementary School
- Christina Nitsos, Lafayette School District, Lafayette Elementary School
- Lyndsie J. Memory, Liberty Union High School District, Liberty High School
- Amber Love-Snyder, Martinez Unified School District, Las Juntas Elementary School
- Brett Lorie, Moraga School District, Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School
- Beth Miller Bremer, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Wren Avenue Elementary School
- Dylan Bland, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, College Park High School
- Kathy Reinders, Oakley Union Elementary School District, Vintage Elementary School
- Katherine Sahm, Orinda Union School District, Del Rey Elementary School
- Taylor Leonna Smith, Pittsburg Unified School District, Rancho Medanos Junior High School
- Sarah Clancy, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Live Oak Elementary School
- Courtney Konopacky, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Stone Valley Middle School
- Petra Sauve, Walnut Creek School District, Parkmead Elementary School
- Cesar Dante-Barragan, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Cesar Chavez Elementary School
- Jesus Alfredo Galindo, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Lincoln Elementary School
Note regarding eligible participants:
- Seventeen 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 Diablo Valley 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
