An elementary school teacher from the San Juan Unified School District and a high school math teacher from the Elk Grove Unified School District are the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2014, the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) announced August 16 at a countywide teacher recognition dinner. Deanna Victor teaches a 4th-5th grade combination class at Mariemont Elementary in the San Juan Unified School District. Tim Smith teaches Math, Algebra I, and AP Statistics at Florin High School in the Elk Grove Unified School District. The two were selected from among 16 Sacramento-area teachers to represent the county in the California Teachers of the Year competition.
A selection committee of education professionals, including previous Teachers of the Year, interviewed the district Teachers of the Year and selected the two finalists. All 16 Sacramento-area teachers will be honored during special Teacher Appreciation Nights hosted by both the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats. Dates and times are to be announced.
All of the school districts within the County of Sacramento, along with local charter schools and SCOE, are invited to participate each year in the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program. Larger districts are eligible to submit two entries. Eleven local districts, including SCOE, and the California Charter Schools Association participated this year. Each district's Teacher of the Year completed a comprehensive application packet, which included an extensive biography and answered questions ranging from personal philosophy of teaching to an understanding of current education issues.
During the awards ceremony, each district Teacher of the Year was introduced by a current/former student, or a student's parent. David W. Gordon, County Superintendent of Schools, and trustees from the Sacramento County Board of Education, presented each of the Teachers of the Year with an inscribed award.
Outgoing Teacher of the Year Jennifer Ellerman (Sacramento City Unified) announced the names of the honorees. Sacramento County Board of Education President Jacquelyn Levy presented the winners with the Elinor Lincoln Hickey Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by the County Board of Education. Mike Rizo, representing the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry, awarded a perpetual trophy to the County Teachers of the Year.
Deanna Victor and Tim Smith are now eligible to advance to the statewide competition, out of which five teachers will be chosen as California Teachers of the Year. California Teachers of the Year are responsible for representing the teaching profession in a variety of settings and assisting their teaching colleagues in numerous ways throughout 2014. Their names, and that of the individual selected as the state's nominee to the National Teacher of the Year program, will be announced later in the fall by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. Past Sacramento County Teachers of the Year are listed online.
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program is presented by the Sacramento County Office of Education in partnership with the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento River Cats, the Intel Corporation Folsom, SAFE Credit Union, and the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry.
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Michael Wright Center Joint Unified School District Center High School Biology, AP Biology Studio Interview (YouTube)  Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Vanessa Belair Charter Schools Association Delta Elementary Charter School 4th Grade Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Donna McNeel Elk Grove Unified School District Katherine L. Albiani Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Reading, 8th Grade History, Activities Director Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Tim Smith • Selected as County TOY 2014 Elk Grove Unified School District Florin High School Math (Algebra I, AP Statistics) Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Gretchen Martindale Elverta Joint School District Elverta Elementary School Kindergarten Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Jeff Carter Folsom Cordova Unified School District Folsom High School Art (Drawing & Painting, AP Art) Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Kimberley Monteiro Natomas Unified School District Bannon Creek Elementary School Kindergarten Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Reina Riebe River Delta Unified School District Walnut Grove Elementary School 6th Grade Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Rachel Dadigan Robla School District Bell Avenue School 3rd Grade Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Stephanie Cook Sacramento City Unified School District George Washington Carver School of Arts and Science Geography & Contemporary Global Issues, Government & Economics, Yoga Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Reza Mahvi Sacramento City Unified School District Fern Bacon Middle School 7th Grade Special Education (Pre-Algebra) |
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René Delgado Sacramento County Office of Education Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School Middle School Special Education Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Rashelle Haak San Juan Unified School District Del Campo High School Freshman & Sophomore English, Children's Literature Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Deanna Victor • Selected as County TOY 2014 San Juan Unified School District Mariemont Elementary School 4th–5th Grade Combination Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Deborah Daniels Twin Rivers Unified School District Foothill High School Spanish, Leadership Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |
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Matthew Tealdi Twin Rivers Unified School District Woodridge Elementary School 3rd–4th Grade Special Education Studio Interview (YouTube) Banquet Speech (YouTube) |