Fifth and sixth-grade teacher Deb House and students at Kingswood Elementary School in the San Juan Unified School District had a pair of special visitors at their campus on March 17. Sacramento Kings players Jon Brockman and Ime Udoka stopped by to honor Mrs. House as one of the 2010 Sacramento County Teachers of the Year and to promote the joys of reading.
In conjunction with the Kings' "Read to Achieve" program, the players read to the students and talked to them about the importance of education. "Read to Achieve" is designed to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children.
After reading two chapters from a book the students were reading in class (which Brockman remembered reading as a student), the players took questions from the students. Brockman and Udoka also posed for pictures with the students and presented them with autographed tote bags filled with gifts from the Kings organization.
On February 24, Kings players Donte Greene and Carl Landry visited Stone Lake Elementary, in the Elk Grove Unified School District, to honor second-grade teacher JoEllen Shanks, the other 2010 Sacramento County Teacher of the Year.
For more than 15 years, the Sacramento Kings have helped recognize district and county Teachers of the Year. The district and County Teachers of the Year 2010 in Sacramento County were honored on February 5 when the Kings hosted the Phoenix Suns at ARCO Arena.
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program is presented by SCOE in partnership with Maloof Sports and Entertainment, Intel-Folsom and the
Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry.
Information about the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program is available online or by contacting the Sacramento County Office of Education at (916) 228-2417.