West Sonoma County Teacher of the Year Award
The Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation, a tax-exempt 501c3 charity, has been recognizing outstanding teachers since 2007 with a cash award and a luncheon banquet in their honor. Students, alumni, parents, community members, and educators from across West Sonoma County are invited to submit nominations for the "Teacher of the Year" recognition program. Teachers from public schools (including charter schools) and private schools located in West Sonoma County may be nominated. Each "Teacher of the Year" receives a $1,000 cash award and is recognized, along with their guests, at a Sebastopol Rotary Club luncheon.
Beginning in 2019-2020, SREF honors one teacher of the year in each of these categories:
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New Teacher
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Innovative Teacher(s)*
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Career Service Teacher
*We have made one change for just this year. In the category of Innovative Teacher, we want to include the possibility of honoring groups of teachers who, in the face of distance learning and other adaptations to meet the challenge of COVID-19, have collectively developed innovations that have helped deal with the extraordinary challenges of the past year. If a group (rather than an individual teacher) is selected, we will split the $1000 check among them equally.
*Our mission is to secure and annually distribute funds in the form of grants, scholarships, and educational equipment or materials. Philanthropic activities are exclusively provided for the benefit of students in Western Sonoma County. The Foundation was established as an ongoing Endowment Fund that directs funds each year for educational purposes.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS OF SELECTION CRITERIA
READY TO NOMINATE A TEACHER? CLICK HERE TO START YOUR NOMINATION
2019-2020 Awards
The Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation (SREF) is pleased to honor 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year:
Mary Jo Kinser, Pleasant Hill Christian School for a career of great performance and leadership; Sydnee Mardell, Twin Hills Charter Middle School for her stellar performance as a new teacher; and Joe Maloney, Laguna HIgh School for his innovations to improve curriculum and career opportunities
Read the Full Press Release Here
2018-2019
Julie Aiello, Kindergarten, Parkside School
Tim Forslund, Social Studies, Analy High School
Amanda Reece, Special Education, West Sonoma County Special Education Consortium
Sonoma West Times Article
2017-2018
Jolene Johnson, Dance Teacher, El Molino High School
Karen McKenna, 6th Grade English and History, Twin Hills Middle School
Jeff Stucker, 6th Grade English and History, Brook Haven School
Sonoma West Times Article
2016-2017
Kate O'Brien,Kindergarten, Sunridge School
Sara Gramm, 3rd Grade, Parkside School
Adam Alcorn, Special Education, Analy High School
Sonoma West Times Article
2015-2016
Nicole Ellwood, Special Education Twin Hills Middle School
Katya Robinson, West Sonoma County Special Education Consortium
Walt Hayes, Applied Arts & Technology, Analy High School
Sonoma West Times Article
2014-2015
Sunny Galbraith, Orchard View School
Greg Corby, Brook Haven School
Mike Roan, El Molino High School
Sonoma West Times Article
2013-2014
Mary Fitch, Physical Sciences, Twin Hills Charter School
Sarah Prosser, 4th Grade, Sun Ridge Waldorf School
Lynn Stewart, English Language Learners, El Molino High School
2012-2013
Andy DelMonte, Choir, Analy High School
John Thomas, English, El Molino High School
2011-2012
Gianna De Persis Vona, English, Laguna High School
Rachel Lasek, Math, El Molino High School
2009-2010
Joe Compagno, Science, Analy High School
Vance Regan, Instrumental Music, Analy High School
2008-2009
Bill Olzman, Social Studies/English, El Molino High School
Lynette Williamson, English/Rhetoric, Analy High School
2007-2008
John Grech, Social Studies, El Molino High School
Cathy Wiese, Special Eduaction, Analy High School