West Sonoma County Teacher of the Year Award
Teacher of the Year Awards
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. Beginning in 2019-20, SREF honors one teacher of the year in each of these categories:
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New Teacher
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Innovative/Collaborative Teacher(s)
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Career Service Teacher
Our 2023 Teacher of the Year Award Winners





2022-2023 Awards
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 three awards:
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New Teacher (5 years or less of teaching experience)
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Innovative/Collaborative Teacher(s)
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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:
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Career Service Teacher of the Year: Allie Brown. Allie has taught for 14 years, the last 10 years at Gravenstein Elementary School teaching 4th grade. Her kindness, compassion, creativity and dedication shine through in everything she does. She works tirelessly to create an amazing experience for each year's class.
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Career Service Teacher of the Year: Jeanne Guerinoni. Jeanne has spent her entire 28 teaching career at Apple Blossom Elementary School. She goes above and beyond to create a classroom environment that is inclusive, welcoming and engaging. Her teaching style is creative, innovative and effective.
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New Teacher of the Year: Casey Jones. Casey has spent his last 4 years teaching Band at Analy High School. While Casey shows great expertise directing the Analy Band Program, it's actually his open and warm personality that connects so well with the students and the staff on a whole.
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Innovative Teacher of the Year: Britt Machado. Britt is in her 5th year of teaching math at Brook Haven Middle School. Students are welcomed into the classroom as mathematicians from the get-go. Britt features artwork depicting how math can be found everywhere, as well as words to change from a negative mindset, to a growth mindset about math.
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.
From Left to right: Allie Brown: Career Teacher of the Year, Casey Jones: New Teacher of the Year, Britt Machado: Innovative Teacher of the Year and Jeanne Guerinoni: Career Teacher of the Year.

2022-2023
Jeanne Guerinoni, Career Service Teacher, Apple Blossom Elementary School
Allie Brown, Career Service Teacher, Gravenstein Elemenary School
Casey Jones, New Teacher, Analy High School
Britt Machado, Innovative Teacher, Brook Haven Middle School
2021-2022
Sally Briggs, Career Service Teacher, Apple Blossom School
Mei Ibach, New Teacher, West County High School
Andy Del Monte and Walt Hays, Innovative Teachers, West County High School
2020-2021
Sergio Blanco, Career Service Teacher, Hillcrest Middle School
Jennifer Tsurumoto, New Teacher, Parkside & Brook Haven Schools
Kate Crandall, Beth Trivunovic, Kory Van Dyke and Sally Redfern, Innovative Teachers, Gravenstein Elementary School
2019-2020
Mary Jo Kinser, Career Service Teacher, Pleasant Hill Christian School
Joe Maloney, Innovate Teacher, Laguna High School
Sydnee Mardell, New Teacher, Twin Hills Charter Middle School
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