Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1487796
" Using their exceptional skills, creativity and experience, these educators create positive learning environments and make meaningful contributions to the academic and social–emotional needs of their students." —State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on the 2023 California Teachers of the Year CATHERINE BOREK Compton Education Association Borek is an AP English literature, drama and AVID teacher at Dominguez High School in the Compton Unified School District. She is the district's 2022 Teacher of the Year, as well as one of LA's County Office of Education's Teachers of the Year. Borek came to Dominguez High in 1996 and in 1999 reestablished the long-defunct drama program, co-producing a play whose behind-the-scenes drama was the sub- ject of an award-winning documentary. In her time at Dominguez Borek and her students, which she calls her family, have completed the LA Marathon, col- laborated with the LA Opera, starred in a Keurig commercial, published a play and started a rugby club. "What makes Compton special and what test scores don't show is that we have some really creative students and some true problem-solv- ers," Borek said in a district video (youtu.be/-xZRICJm_qU). " That's something to be celebrated." BEN CASE Irvine Teachers Association An instrumental music and music the- ory teacher at Northwood High School in the Irvine Unified School District, Case was named Orange County Teacher of the Year in May. He is also Irvine Unified's 2022 High School Teacher of the Year and was a Grammy Music Educator Award semifinalist in 2015. He has helped grow Northwood High's instrumental musical program, which is now one of the largest in the state with nearly 800 students in its band and orchestra program, including more than 120 musicians in one of Northwood's four jazz ensembles. " These past few years have brought us challenges we could never have imagined, but they have also reinforced the reasons why I got into teaching to begin with — the inspirational relationships we foster with students and colleagues alike," Case said in an Orange County Register news story. BRIDGET TE DONALD-BLUE United Teachers Los Angeles/NEA Donald-Blue, a 2022 LA County Teacher of the year, is a fourth-grade multiple subject teacher at Coliseum Street Elementary School in LAUSD. She holds a degree from Howard University; she deferred law school to fulfill a two-year commitment to Teach for America, and 30 years later, is still teaching in the classroom. "I just stayed because I felt [my] suc- cess was there in the classroom, working with students and their families and helping children really see their potential and how amazing they are," she said in an LAUSD video (youtu.be/wiFlDS3hceU). When you do that — it's a great day every day." is is the 50th year that California has selected a teacher of the year. County offices of education nominate California Teachers of the Year applicants through their county-level competitions. California Department of Education (CDE) selection committees review applications; evaluate teachers' rapport with students, classroom environments, presentation skills, and teaching techniques; and interview the teachers. e State SPI then selects the five California Teachers of the Year and the National Teacher of the Year nominee. For more information on the award program, go to cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/ct/. 55 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3