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:

• 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: 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.

• 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.  

• 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.

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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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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.