PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – Currently, there are 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.”
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:
- 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
- Vicki McGuire, Antioch Unified School District, Sutter 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
