SCOE Announces Representatives for California’s Teacher of the Year Program | Schools

Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) recently announced that Angela Freeman from Medeiros Elementary School in the Turlock Unified School District, and Lynda Griblin, from Standiford Elementary School in the Sylvan Union School District, will represent Stanislaus County in the 2012 California Teacher of the Year competition.  This past spring Freeman and Griblin, along with Rogelio Adame from Cesar Chavez Junior High School in the Ceres Unified School District, and Ruben Modesto from Pitman High School in the Turlock Unified School District, were selected from 83 nominees as Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year.  SCOE and the Modesto Rotary jointly sponsor the Teacher of the Year Program.

Freeman and Griblin now advance to the next level of the program, where they will have the opportunity to become one of five state Teachers of the Year.  Representatives of major educational and parent organizations and veteran teachers of the year make selections.  Announcements are usually made in early November.  One state winner then proceeds to the national level.

A third grade teacher, Angela Freeman has always had a desire to be a teacher. “Since I was a young adult, my life has revolved around teaching something, be it sports, horseback riding, or lessons in a classroom,” she said.  According to Principal Jennifer Yacoub, Angela is positive, proactive and goes above and beyond to ensure her students are successful. “Angela uses numerous strategies, skills, and life experiences to maintain a high level of student interest and motivation in her classroom,” she said. According to Angela, one of her greatest success stories was working with a visually impaired student.  “He could see very large text, but it was blurry,” she said. “I encouraged him to be independent and not to rely on others to read everything to him. By the end of the school year, he had grown two full years as a reader!”  Angela says she owes her success as a teacher to her many role models – from principals to her fellow teachers. 

Lynda Griblin has taught for 19 years and is currently a fourth grade teacher. According to her Principal Matthew Shipley, Lynda is constantly seeking and utilizing new and creative ways to teach her students concepts and skills that they need.  “In the six years she has taught at Standiford Elementary School, she has been largely responsible for the positive turnaround of a number of students with academic and behavioral challenges,” he said.  Lynda said she strives to leave a lasting impression on her students and in her professional community. “I feel my greatest accomplishment and my greatest contributions are the day-to-day teachings that encourage all students to be the best they can be,” she said.

The California Teacher of the Year Program is open to all teachers in public and private schools that teach pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.  While county offices of education have traditionally organized and administered regional Teacher of the Year selection and recognition programs, SCOE chooses to share this task with Modesto Rotary.  This is the 14th year that Modesto Rotary and SCOE have joined efforts to honor teachers in Stanislaus County.

Source: Stanislaus County Office of Education