West Sonoma County Teacher of the Year Awards

The Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation funds the Teacher of the Year Awards.

The goal of these awards is to recognize the skills and dedication of West County teachers who engage our children and provide the kind of education experience that will be the foundation for a productive and happy life.

Starting in 2020, we changed our selection criteria.  There are now four (4) awards:

• New Teacher (5 years or less of teaching experience)

• Innovative/Collaborative Teacher(s) 

• Career Service Teacher (more than 5 years of teaching experience)

Each year the Education Foundation asks parents, teachers, administrators, students, and community members associated with every elementary and secondary school in West County to nominate teachers who have had a great career, who have shown promise in their first three years in the profession and who have championed innovations that have improved instruction or school life.

The winners were:

• Career Service Teacher of the Year: Jacqueline Komrij.  Jacqueline Komrij has taught varied grade levels over her 32-year career at Apple Blossom, but over half of her career has been teaching at the kindergarten level.  Jacqueline has a joyful, enthusiastic personality and amazing energy which she brings every day to school and gives to her students.  She is highly organized and a great communicator.  One of the nominees wrote, “Teachers play such an important role in our society and an even important role in a child’s life.  Ms. Komrij is one of those teachers that pours her heart and soul into each student that she teaches.  Her passion for teaching and love for each of her student’s shines through every interaction she has.  I am forever grateful that my life has been touched by her and I can confidently say that her other students feel the same way.  She is a special woman and deserves to be recognized for what a wonderful teacher she is”​

• New Teacher of the Year: Almz Diaz. Alma Diaz is in her first year of teaching Spanish at Analy High School.  As a first year Spanish Teacher, she teaches Native Spanish Speakers and Spanish 2.  She welcomes students in her classroom before/after school, during brunch and lunch to give them a nice space to hang out.  One of her students wrote, “Ms. Diaz invites a lot of guest speakers into our class who taught us about different activities and careers.  She organizes fun events for students like field trips, celebrations, even how to make salsa and tamales.  Overall Ms. Diaz is a great person and teacher who is empathetic and shows us how much she cares about her students.  

• Innovative Teacher of the Year:  Laurie Horner Barzanzini.  Laurie Horner Barzanzini has been a teacher at Laguna High School for 33 years.  She is loved by many and changed the lives of generations of students and families.  Over the years she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to building positive relationships, fostering a sense of community and contributing to the well-being of students, colleagues and families.  Laurie has prepared, hosted and planned the Annual Holiday Meal at Laguna High School for the past 33 years. This event brings staff, students, educational partners, community partners and families together on the last day of the first semester and is a truly wonderful tradition.  Her commitment to the Annual Holiday Dinner is why we selected Laurie as our Innovated Teacher of the Year. 

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​Each winner of the awards receive $1000 for their personal use.  In addition, all of the teachers had two separate recognitions: First, they were surprised by Foundation members who came to school to surprise the winners with the announcement of their award.  Then, all the winners came to a Rotary Club meeting where they were introduced and praised by both members of the awards committee and their principal.

A special thank you to all who took the time to submit a nomination, including those of you who are involved in and support the education of our youth.

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