Region 1
Cathy Brew
Math Department Chair
Rincon Valley Middle School
Santa Rosa City Schools

Even after 30 years of teaching math in the middle, Cathy Brew continues to immerse herself into teaching and leadership with passion and enthusiasm. “Sometimes I wonder who is having more fun, the kids or Cathy,” her principal says. In her classes, students work in cooperative groups as they ask critical questions of one another to arrive at a solution – or use a document camera and math manipulatives to demonstrate how to solve a problem. Cathy and a fellow math teacher dress up in costumes and perform math dances and skits, using humor to help students understand difficult concepts. Her dedication to student learning is evident in her attainment of National Board Certification, her role as math department chair, and her work in analyzing student data and crafting common math units and assessments with professional learning community colleagues. Cathy is a source of wisdom and levity on the school site council and plays a leadership role for the new school at-risk committee, which has built a powerful Response to Intervention system that supports every struggling student from the ground up.

Region 2
Bernie Kelly
Science Teacher
Sequoia Middle School
Redding School District

Energetic, innovative, spontaneous, social, humorous. While these words are commonly associated with middle school students, Bernie Kelly’s colleagues believe they describe him perfectly. Bernie is known for his ability to build motivating relationships with students of all abilities through a combination of personal connections and high academic expectations. The results of his efforts include improved student engagement and achievement. In his science classes, students experience hands-on, standards-based learning and use the latest technology in their curricular explorations. For student government, Bernie developed an innovative student leadership curriculum that has transformed the course into one of the most popular electives. Under his guidance, student leaders organized student body dances, spirit and friendship activities, intramural sports, canned food drives, Red Cross donation drives, talent shows and more. As head wrestling coach, Bernie guides a team of over 50 students. As a teacher leader, he serves as a professional development trainer for classroom management, behavior modification, GATE, AVID, Step Up To Writing, and more. He also participates in Project ARISE and the SMART Grant and enlightens colleagues on Native American traditions and culture.

CLMS STATE EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

Region 3
Cassidy Butler
AVID Coordinator/Core Teacher
Winston Churchill Middle School
San Juan Unified School District

In the words of her principal, Cassidy Butler is an exceptional teacher: “She knows when to push and when to pull; when to coach and when to console; when to praise and when to redirect.” In her International Baccalaureate English/humanities core classes, Cassidy makes students feel welcomed and respected as they participate in lessons aligned to the state standards. Cooperative learning structures and a discussion format that facilitates active engagement through models such as the Socratic seminar characterize her classes. As the AVID coordinator, Cassidy provides targeted instruction in life, organization and study skills to students who will be the first in their families to attend college. She has devoted the past two years to building a vibrant, expanding and successful AVID program that is now certified by the county office of education – a first for the school. A veteran teacher, she mentors new English and humanities teachers each year and has been instrumental in helping those departments solidify their pacing and common assessments. Cassidy also provides exemplary teacher leadership through her service on the school’s site team and International Baccalaureate site team.

Region 4
Mary Cummins
Math Teacher
Creekside Middle School
Castro Valley Unified School District

Mary Cummins is a remarkable educator who teaches with her heart and soul, is admired by students and is deeply respected by colleagues. In her math classroom, students engage in lessons that provide opportunities for self-directed, reflective learning and connection to prior knowledge, life experiences and interests. White boards, a custom homework website, interactive bulletin boards and cooperative grouping characterize the learning environment. After participating in a math booster class last year, 43% of her students significantly improved their STAR results. The Pi Day Mary introduced involves students school-wide in contests, projects and lunch-time activities. For years, she has also taught the after-school Homework Club. Her art exploratory elective incorporates both math and visual/performing arts standards as students investigate geometric shapes and tessellations. Mary advances her own professional development through conferences and courses. As a teacher leader, she has mentored many new teachers, served as team leader for the sixth and seventh grades, and chaired the math and science departments. Mary actively participates in her district’s Prime Numbers middle school cohort, co-writing the district sixth- and seventh-grade math exit exams.

Region 5
Susan Fernandes
Science/Language Arts Teacher
Union Middle School
Union School District

Susan Fernandes epitomizes the leadership, awareness and characteristics of a top-notch educator. For her science classes, she integrates environmental awareness as much as possible into lessons. Her BP-funded grant resulted in a solar panel system installed on her classroom roof; students use the system controls inside the classroom to measure power input and output. Counting additional grants awarded for field trips, a garden and shed, a solar-powered water fountain, and solar balloons, Susan has won over $120,000 in funding. One of her science lessons was featured on television for its innovation and student engagement qualities. Each year, Susan chairs a science night partnership between her school, a classroom supplies nonprofit, and a science-focused corporation that attracts hundreds of parents and students. In her language arts classes, she integrates document cameras to help students improve their writing, and students produce iMovies to demonstrate their knowledge of the standards. In terms of teacher leadership, Susan is a statewide leader for the Mouse Squad student technology program and a site and district technology committee leader. Last year, she wrote her school’s successful Distinguished Schools application.

Region 6
Roger Lawson
Science Teacher
Glick Middle School
Empire Union School District

Strong teachers can often be identified by the numbers of students who gather in their classrooms during free time. Roger Lawson is one of those educators, as these student testimonials attest: “Mr. Lawson makes us laugh and learn at the same time. I don’t think I liked science before I met him, but it’s easy to remember what he teaches us. He’s a great teacher.” “Mr. Lawson makes sure you get things before he moves on to another subject. He’s the best, kindest and most reasonable teacher I’ve ever had.” “He makes me feel like I can succeed and he wants all of us to try and do our best.” From his zoo of science classroom animals to his outstanding classroom management, instruction, and responsiveness to the individual needs of each student, Roger is a consummate educator. As a teacher leader, he has co-led his site’s advisory program development and implementation; organizes the school’s fall festival, aquarium fieldtrips and whale watching fieldtrips; supervises every school dance; and serves on the school site council. His constant focus is on what is best for kids, and his personal ethic of excellence is evident in everything he does.

Region 7
Kathryn Mytton
Math Department Chair
Scandinavian Middle School
Fresno Unified School District

Kathryn Mytton truly believes that all students can and will learn. Her commitment to this vision is evident in the achievement her students – and students district-wide – demonstrate in algebra. Her students know that success is not an option, it is a requirement. So they do succeed, and they come back each year to tell her how she has made a difference in their lives. As the math department chair, Kathryn has led colleagues in creating math course curriculum maps and outlines; implementing student engagement strategies; and working as a collaborative team to share best practices, analyze common assessment data, and develop common goals. Students’ algebra proficiency on the California Standards Test has increased 70% over the past three years, and algebra enrollments have increased 15% this year alone. These efforts, combined with interventions such as Kathyryn’s seven-week Saturday School program, have resulted in her site’s algebra students outperforming all other middle-grades schools in the district, including magnet programs. Kathryn’s work has now become a middle school reform model implemented district-wide and featured in the Fresno Bee.

Region 8
Mark Kniffen
History Teacher/ASB Advisor
Santa Lucia Middle School
Coast Unified School District

When Mark Kniffen teaches history, his students are a part of the story. They engage in role-play, discussions and questioning as they learn from a standards-aligned curriculum that makes Medieval times and early American history accessible and enjoyable. For nearly two decades, he was his school’s History Day advisor and shepherded many student projects to first, second and third place finishes nationwide. As a leadership teacher, Mark focuses on service learning so students may realize the importance of doing for others. His leadership students raise funds for cancer patients, host an annual 9-11 remembrance assembly, spruce up the local cemetery, assist the elderly at local care facilities, and mentor younger students at school. During school lunch time, Mark runs the intramural sports program; after school, he volunteers his time to provide intervention to struggling students. Each month, he involves up to 80 students in an ASB activity, such as going to movies or playing miniature golf. But perhaps the most amazing thing about Mark is the fact that he has maintained such an extraordinary level of commitment, dedication and caring for 30 years.

Region 9
Katie Bator
Social Studies/Reading Teacher
Oak Crest Middle School
San Dieguito Union High School District

“When Katie Bator sees a need, she does the research and makes things happen,” her principal says. This attribute has resulted in an innovative school program for struggling readers. When Katie noticed that English learners were struggling in her history classes, she learned about READ 180, spearheaded its adoption, and volunteered to teach it. For her READ 180 classes, she pioneered award incentives so students would enroll in reading rather than an elective. She then encouraged her reading students to take her history classes so they could increase their literacy skills two periods a day. Successful in that effort, she is now leading social studies course alignments and common benchmark assessments school- and district-wide. World history teachers at her school have implemented a re-teach process in which one teacher works with all students who scored below proficient on the benchmark test, re-teaching the standards as needed. In Katie’s history classes, students work in collaborative groups engaging in project-based learning. She also coordinates a world history festival each semester, inviting parents and the public to see the exciting projects students have completed.

Region 10
Ian Young
Math/Science Teacher
San Gorgonio Middle School
Beaumont Unified School District

Ian Young’s passion for teaching and high standards for students are evident in everything he does. For two years now, he has taught sheltered math/science to clustered groups of English learners using research-based strategies such as Direct Interactive Instruction and Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English. The results have been outstanding. Despite their language acquisition and academic language challenges, the English learner students are maintaining the same pace and progressing at the same rate as their grade-level peers. As a founding teacher at his school, Ian established, grew and now maintains the student leadership program as the ASB advisor. Under his leadership, students offer activities, run spirit days and provide music at lunch on Fridays. Other school-wide ASB activities include operating recycling centers throughout campus to promote environmental awareness, sending every student a birthday card on the appropriate day, and staff and students wearing school logo clothing. Through his dress, words and actions, Ian models caring, a positive attitude and professionalism to students, parents and colleagues alike. In the words of his principal, Ian represents the best of his district.

Region 11
Rita Watson
Music Teacher/Elective Department Chair
Bernardo Yorba Middle School
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

When New York University professor and national education expert Dr. Pedro Noguera recently saw Rita Watson direct her concert band as they delivered a spot-on performance, he spontaneously altered his speech to highlight her as a role model for good teaching. “She gets it,” he said. “She understands that this band is only as strong as its weakest member. You have to do what it takes to make sure all students learn.” For Rita, doing what it takes means more than offering wind ensemble, string orchestra, color guard, and beginning, intermediate, jazz, concert and marching band courses. It also means taking unskilled seventh-grade individuals, transforming them into musicians and dancers, and melding them into powerhouse, award-winning eighth- and ninth-grade bands. It means devoting countless hours to after-school practice sessions and student performances at holiday events, amusement parks, music festivals, competitions and school functions such as open house and back-to-school nights. Rita’s passion for music, belief that all students can perform at high levels, and ability to connect with students, parents and colleagues make her an exceptional teacher and elective department chair.