| 14 |  | | | |  | 鈥婰indsay HackCivics鈥� Leadership Award
Gilroy Unified School District
鈥婫ilroy High School
| Special Awards |
| 33 | | | | |  | 鈥婥indy BosworthOak Grove School District | Anderson Elementary School
Transitional Kindergarten through 1st Grade | Years in the profession: 11 | in the district: 10 "My greatest accomplishment as a teacher has been the connections I made with my students and their families. Understanding their interests, needs, and challenges allowed me to better support their learning. By fostering a comfortable environment, I encouraged my students to express themselves and celebrate their achievements, making each one feel valued and special."
| Honorees |
| 39 | | | | |  | 鈥婱argaret JacksonSanta Clara Unified School District | Peterson Middle School
鈥嬧赌�6th through 8th Grade | Years in the profession: 36 | in the district: 36鈥� "I believe that engaging students in their learning begins with understanding their backgrounds and building meaningful relationships. When students feel comfortable and valued in the classroom, they are more willing to share and produce quality work. By fostering a safe and engaging environment with humor, positivity, and respect, I can teach with creativity and rigor, guiding my ELD students through relevant hands-on experiences that enhance their language skills."
| Honorees |
| 35 | | | | |  | Kevin McCullough鈥�Arts Leadership Award
Oak Grove School District
Itinerant Teacher鈥�
| Special Awards |
| 34 | | | | |  | 鈥婬eather Samson鈥�
Collaboration in STEM Award
Oak Grove School District
Julia Baldwin Elementary School鈥嬧赌�
| Special Awards |
| 28 | | | | |  | 鈥婯ate PascoalCivics Leadership Award
Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary鈥�
| Special Awards |
| 26 | | | | |  | 鈥婣lyssa SmithCivics Leadership Award Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
August Boeger Middle School鈥嬧赌�
| Special Awards |
| 40 | | | | |  | 鈥婻achel McCauleyArts Leadership Award Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary鈥� | Special Awards |
| 35 | | | | |  | 鈥婮oanna UngerPreserverance in STEM Award Franklin McKinley School District
Los Arboles Literacy & Technology Academy鈥�
| Special Awards |
| 31 | | | | |  | 鈥婯andice HarmonUnion School District | Guadalupe Elementary School鈥�
5th Grade | Years in the profession: 8 | in the district: 8 "I believe that incorporating cross-curricular activities and hands-on projects creates the most rewarding learning experiences for students. Through the Green Team club and our garden initiatives, I aim to inspire kids to connect with nature and take pride in caring for their campus and environment."
| Honorees |
| 29 | | | | |  | 鈥婼andy Waite-LopezSaratoga Union School District | Foothill Elementary School鈥�
4th grade | Years in the profession: 25 | in the district: 25鈥� 鈥淚 chose to teach because I love learning, have a desire to inspire, and have a heart for making a difference.鈥濃��
| Honorees |
| 27 | | | | |  | 鈥婣nnette Hernandez番茄社区 Office of Education | Osborne School鈥�
9th through 12th Grade | Years in the profession: 30 | in the district: 30 鈥淚 believe in creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel valued and heard. Building strong relationships is essential; when students trust me, they are more willing to engage and take risks in their learning. I strive to meet them where they are, tailoring my approach to their individual needs and interests, which helps reignite their passion for learning.鈥濃��
| Honorees |
| 25 | | | | |  | 鈥婯ara ThayerSan Jos茅 Unified School District | Herbert Hoover Middle School鈥�
6th through 8th Grade | Years in the profession: 17 | in the district: 3 "Teaching where I am rooted here in 番茄社区 is important to me because this is the school system that educated me and is helping me to educate my own children."
| Honorees |
| 23 | | | | |  | 鈥婱arco ArceMountain View Whisman School District | Crittenden Middle School鈥�
8th Grade | Years in the profession: 13 | in the district: 13 "My philosophy has always been that teaching begins with a relationship. When people feel valued and respected, they are more likely to be motivated to learn. Building a safe environment where students can think critically, take risks without judgment, and explore new concepts all starts with a relationship."
| Honorees |
| 20 | | | | |  | 鈥婽eresa RoundsMorgan Hill Unified School District | Live Oak High School鈥�
High School Culinary | Years in the profession: 15 | in the district: 15鈥� 鈥淢y core belief is that what we need to do is get kids ready to take care of themselves and the people they love.鈥濃�嬧赌�
| Honorees |
| 18 | | | | |  | 鈥婼appho ChowMilpitas Unified School District | Anthony Spangler Elementary School鈥�
4th through 6th Grade | Years in the profession: 13 | in the district: 9鈥� "As an immigrant, I understand that everyone learns in unique ways, and I apply this perspective to how I teach Science. My approach focuses on creating an interactive classroom where students are encouraged to engage in discussions and learn and teach one another. I believe that peer-to-peer interactions are one of the most effective ways for students to truly grasp concepts. To support different learning styles, I incorporate a variety of teaching methods and activities, ensuring that each student has the opportunity to connect with the topics we learn in class so they can develop their curiosity."
| Honorees |
| 17 | | | | |  | 鈥婱arion ClarkMetropolitan Education District | Silicon Valley Adult Education鈥�
Adult | Years in the profession: 12 | in the district: 4 "Teaching is a career that has taken me around the world and enabled me to give something back to the students that I have had the pleasure to teach and the communities I have had the pleasure to serve."鈥�
| Honorees |
| 16 | | | | |  | 鈥婱ichael TylerLos Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District | Saratoga High School鈥�
9th through 12th Grade | Years in the profession: 28 | in the district: 28鈥� "My mission has been to help students tell the important stories of our school community. Guiding them through the transformative experience of school publications not only enhances their writing skills but also fosters leadership and builds the confidence they need for college and the workforce. Despite the long hours and the pressure of deadlines, the true reward lies in witnessing the profoundly positive impact this program has on my students."鈥�
| Honorees |
| 15 | | | | |  | 鈥婱aria PulizzanoLos Gatos Union School District | RJ Fisher Middle School鈥�
6th through 8th Grade | Years in the profession: 25 | in the district: 8鈥� 鈥淚 strongly believe in education, because it is the key to a better quality of life for any individual. Education provides access to acquiring and developing different skills or skill sets, uplifting and empowering one's capabilities to contribute in becoming a better member of the society. Therefore, education should be accessible and available to all.鈥�
| Honorees |
| 14 | | | | |  | 鈥婮oe ChanLos Altos School District | Los Altos School District鈥嬧赌�
4thh through 6th Grade | Years in the profession: 31 | in the district: 20鈥� 鈥淎side from the teaching aspect, I value the importance of developing relationships with my students. It is through this student-teacher bond that I can reach my students more effectively.鈥�
| Honorees |
| 13 | | | | |  | 鈥婱ichelle BowenLoma Prieta Joint Union School District | Loma Prieta Elementary School鈥�
3rd Grade | Years in the profession: 9 | in the district: 9鈥� "I have always loved working with kids! My father was a teacher and I got to see first-hand the impact he had on his students. Our K-8th grade school district plays such an important role in our mountain community. Our teachers, staff, administrators, and parents all work together as a team to create a strong, supportive, and inclusive environment for our students to thrive.鈥�"
| Honorees |
| 12 | | | | |  | 鈥婯athy McKinneyLakeside Joint School District | Lakeside School鈥�
Transitional Kindergarten through 5th Grade | Years in the profession: 20 | in the district: 20鈥�
"My students really love PE, which is what brings me the most satisfaction, knowing that my class will be one of the best parts of their school day."鈥�
| Honorees |
| 11 | | | | |  | 鈥婮eanne BaumgartnerGilroy Unified School District | Christopher High School鈥�
9th and 12th Grade | Years in the profession: 27 | in the district: 27鈥� "I believe all students can succeed with the right support, encouragement, and opportunities. It's our responsibility to hold them to high standards while equipping them with the tools to reach their potential. Alongside helping students grow, I鈥檝e dedicated years to mentoring new teachers, knowing that strong relationships and collaboration are key to a thriving learning environment."
| Honorees |
| 10 | | | | |  | 鈥婼tacey JaehnigFremont Union High School District | Cupertino High School
鈥�10th through 12th Grade | Years in the profession: 28 | in the district: 28
鈥淚 love working with my fellow educators and know that my success is largely a result of our combined work effort.鈥濃�嬧赌�
| Honorees |
| 9 | | | | |  | 鈥婯athline GilbreathFranklin-Mckinley School District | Jeanne R. Meadows Elementary School鈥�
3rd Grade | Years in the profession: 28 | in the district: 28鈥�
鈥淚 want to ensure all students regardless of their learning ability feel included, respected, valued, and safe.鈥濃�嬧赌�
| Honorees |
| 8 | | | | |  | 鈥婼hannon SimpsonEvergreen School District | Tom Matsumoto Elementary School鈥嬧赌�
Transitional Kindergarten | Years in the profession: 24 | in the district: 24鈥�
"From a young age, I was captivated by the idea of becoming a teacher. Through the years, my interest in teaching began taking shape. The joy of interacting with students, and knowing that I could contribute to their educational journey, affirmed my commitment to the field of education and solidified that teaching was my calling."
| Honorees |
| 6 | | | | |  | 鈥婬annah M. SunCupertino Union School District | John F. Kennedy Middle School鈥�
6th through 8th Grade | Years in the profession: 20 | in the district: 18鈥�
"The world is changing fast around us, and we may not know what jobs these kids will need to prepare for, but I know that we are in good hands if we develop future generations that will not just do what's best for themselves, but do right by others and think about how to coexist with other people and species in a mutually beneficial way."
| Honorees |
| 4 | | | | |  | 鈥嬧赌婯atie Iyama
Campbell Union School District | Capri Elementary School
3rd Grade | Years in the profession: 12 | in the district: 11鈥�
"My teaching philosophy centers on the belief that building meaningful relationships is the cornerstone of student success. By fostering an environment of trust, respect, and empathy, I aim to create a space where students feel valued and understood, which enhances engagement and encourages them to take risks in their learning. Additionally, I recognize the importance of providing tailored instruction that is effective, collaborative, and relevant. When students feel connected and supported, they are more motivated and resilient, leading to deeper understanding and lasting success.鈥�"鈥�
| Honorees |
| 32 | | | | |  | 鈥婼tephen WidmarkBoldness in STEM Award Mountain View Los Altos High School District
Mountain View High School鈥� | Special Awards |
| 41 | | | | |  | 鈥婮oel TarboxArts Leadership Award
Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union School District
Saratoga High School鈥�
| Special Awards |
