One of the current Sacramento County Teachers of the Year has earned statewide recognition. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has selected Tim Smith as California's nominee for National Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Smith was named as one of five California Teachers of the Year for 2014. He teaches Math, Algebra I, and AP Statistics at Florin High School, in the Elk Grove Unified School District. He and Deanna Victor, a 4th-5th grade combination class teacher from Mariemont Elementary in the San Juan Unified School District, were selected as the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2014.
"It is a humbling honor and a great privilege to be chosen as the California Teacher of the Year," said Mr. Smith, who has taught at Florin High School for 13 years. "As teachers, we put in a lot of time to make sure our students get the lives that they deserve."
The 2014 California Teachers of the Year, the finalists, and the semi-finalists will all be honored by Superintendent Torlakson at a gala to be held on February 3, 2014. Also chosen as California Teachers of the Year:
- Angelo "Ang" Bracco, a sixth through eighth-grade special education teacher at Solano Middle School in Vallejo, Vallejo City Unified School District, Solano County.
- Michael Hayden, who teaches choral music and music appreciation to high school students at Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach Unified School District, Los Angeles County.
- Linda Horist, a second-grade teacher at Nohl Ranch Elementary School, Anaheim, Orange Unified School District, Orange County.
- Jessica Pack, a sixth-grade language arts, social studies, and technology teacher at James Workman Middle School, Cathedral City, Palm Springs Unified School District, Riverside County.
"These outstanding teachers have my thanks and admiration for the work they do every day to provide our students with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to succeed," Torlakson said. "They bring talent, dedication, and more to a job that is as critical as it is challenging—and even more rewarding."
The National Teacher of the Year will be selected next spring by the Council of Chief School Offices. Candidates will be honored at a White House ceremony.
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2014 will be honored at Sleep Train Arena when the Sacramento Kings host the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, March 23, 2014. The Sacramento River Cats will also host a special Teacher Appreciation Night at Raley Field on Friday, April 18, 2014, against the Fresno Grizzlies.
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.