November 22, 2004
O'Connell SElects Five Extraordinary Teachers of the
Year; Chooses One for National Competition
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today selected five exceptional educators for California Teachers of the Year 2005. One of the five will go on to compete in the National Teacher of the Year honor. Also, for the first time, among those winners is an educator from an Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM) continuation high school.
Alan Siegel of Kelseyville teaches history, civics, and economics at the W.C. Carlé Continuation High School in the city of Lower Lake, Lake County. Eric Burrows of Solvang teaches advanced placement U.S. and European history at San Marcos High School in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County. Ray Williams of Huntington Beach teaches the sixth grade at Steve Luther Elementary School in the city of La Palma, Orange County. Kim Labinger of Los Angeles teaches the fourth grade at Thomas A. Edison Elementary School in the city of Glendale, Los Angeles County. Stanley Murphy of Chula Vista teaches social studies at San Diego High School in the city of San Diego, San Diego County.
"There is one underlying theme among all these extraordinary teachers," said O'Connell. "They all have an incredible love of teaching and see great joy when their students meet the challenges of learning. That's why I am choosing them to be our California Teachers of the Year for 2005."
O'Connell also is selecting Murphy to represent California in the National Teacher of the Year competition. The winner will be selected next year by a panel convened by the Council of Chief State School Officers. All candidates for the National Teacher of the Year program will be honored at a White House ceremony.
"I am very impressed by Mr. Murphy's creation of a student and teacher exchange program with the Soviet Union," added O'Connell. "His work is serving as an agent for positive change and democratization that continues to influence hundreds of Russian students. His students in San Diego are also learning valuable lessons in the power of teaching history and how it affects people all over the world."
For the first time in the history of the California Teachers of the Year program, one of the winning teachers is from an ASAM school. Siegel works at the W.C. Carlé Continuation High School that is part of t he California Department of Education's Continuation Education program. These types of schools are designed to meet the needs of high-risk teenagers deemed at risk of not completing their education, by offering them more flexible schedules, and emphasizing vocational or career goals.
The California Teachers of the Year program began in 1972. The program pays tribute to the state's teaching work force, the growing complexity of challenges that confront California's schools, and the need to promote collaboration and teamwork among teachers to meet those challenges.
California continues to face a critical teacher shortage. The program plays a pivotal role in drawing new people into the field. It honors the state's nearly 310,000 educators by identifying outstanding teachers through local, regional, and statewide recognition activities; selecting five people each year who will best represent California 's teachers and symbolize the profession's contributions to quality education; and focusing public attention on noteworthy accomplishments of teachers.
The competition is open to public and private school educators who teach pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. County offices of education traditionally nominate winners of their regional Teacher of the Year competition. A state selection committee reviews the candidates' applications and conducts site visits to evaluate the teachers' rapport with students, classroom environment, presentation skills, use of appropriate teaching methods, their ability to adjust to last minute changes, among other criteria. The State Superintendent then selects the awardees. For more information, please visit California Teachers of the Year.
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California Teachers of the Year 2005
Alan Siegel of Kelseyville
W.C. Carlé Continuation High School
Lower Lake, Lake County
Alan Siegel of Kelseyville teaches high school history, civics, and economics at the W.C. Carlé Continuation High School in the city of Lower Lake, Lake County. This is the first time an educator was selected from an Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM) continuation high school.
"I am choosing Mr. Siegel because of his selfless commitment to help students get out of the cycle of poverty and hopelessness," said O'Connell. "He is a tireless and dedicated teacher who is making a positive difference in his students' lives."
In Siegel's application for California Teachers of the Year, he said, "Helping large numbers of students out of disenfranchised lives, to see that they can be successful and get out of generational poverty is what I strive for now... I would regard my day-to-day effort as my greatest contribution and accomplishment in education."
Siegel works with teenagers deemed at high risk of not completing their high school education. This is the first time in the history of the California Teacher of the Year program that a teacher was selected from an ASAM school. The W.C. Carlé Continuation High School also is part of t he California Department of Education's Continuation Education program. These types of schools are designed to meet the needs of these students by offering them more flexible schedules, and emphasizing vocational or career goals.
Siegel earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Michigan State University in 1981 and a bachelor's in history from San Francisco State in 1987, along with his teaching credential. He has worked in the California education system since 1987.
Alan Siegel may be reached at W.C. Carlé Continuation High School, 707-994-1033. Siegel may also be reached through Superintendent Louise Nan of the Konocti Unified School District at 707-994-6475, or Superintendent Dr. Bill Cornelison of the Lake County Office of Education at 707-262-4100.
Eric Burrows of Solvang
San Marcos High School
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County
Eric Burrows of Solvang teaches advanced placement U.S. and European history at San Marcos High School in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County.
"I am choosing Mr. Burrows because he fully embraces his job as an educator and challenges his students to learn to think," said O'Connell. "He gave up a lucrative job as a lawyer for a teaching job he loves, and for the privilege of seeing the remarkable transformation of students as they learn more about the world."
In Burrows' application for California Teachers of the Year, he said, "The purpose of school is for the child to develop a life-long love of learning, practice the skills to do so, and to gain the specific knowledge of the subject matter... It is often the most rewarding part of my day -- engaging with students in this pure act of learning."
Burrows earned a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1988; a master's degree in public policy analysis at Claremont Graduate School in 1984; and a bachelor's degree in history with distinction from Stanford University in 1982. He received his teaching credential in 1994 from Holy Names College. Burrows has received eight awards as an educator including local teacher of the year awards.
Eric Burrows may be reached at San Marcos High School at 805-967-4581. He may also be reached through Barbara Keyani of the Santa Barbara Elementary and High School Districts at 805-963-4338, x206, or Wendy Shelton of the Santa Barbara County Office of Education at 805-964-4711.
Ray Williams of Huntington Beach
Steve Luther Elementary School
La Palma, Orange County
Ray Williams of Huntington Beach teaches sixth grade at Steve Luther Elementary School in the city of La Palma, Orange County.
"I am choosing Mr. Williams because he is an inspiration to his students and welcomes them to the challenges of learning," said O'Connell. "His positive attitude, enthusiasm, and love of teaching shines through each time his students succeed academically."
In Williams' application for California Teachers of the Year, he said, "Discipline, structure, and communication are my keys to classroom success... To students, I must give them my best each day. It is my duty to support them in every possible way."
Williams earned his master's degree in education systems management from Chapman College in 1971 and his bachelor's in biological sciences and mathematics from McMurray College in 1966. He has taught in California 's education system since 1966. Williams has received 10 awards including several local teacher of the year awards.
Ray Williams may be reached at Steve Luther Elementary School at 714-220-6918. He may also be reached through Troy Hunt of the Cypress Elementary School District at 714-220-6920 or Deputy Superintendent Lynn April Hartline of the Orange County Office of Education at 714-966-4010.
Kim Labinger of Los Angeles
Thomas A. Edison Elementary School
Glendale, Los Angeles County
Kim Labinger of Los Angeles teaches fourth grade at Thomas A. Edison Elementary School in the city of Glendale, Los Angeles County.
"I am choosing Ms. Labinger because her passion and love for teaching, which she considers an art," said O'Connell. "I was moved by her desire to serve the public that started in her childhood in India, working with leprosy patients. She brings that experience to her job where she feels great joy, purpose, and pride in watching her students learn."
In Labinger's application for California Teachers of the Year, she said, "Education must involve teaching and learning more than mere facts. It must include a celebration of humanity, rooted in the past, expressed in the language of the present, and with the ability to imagine the future."
Labinger earned her master's degree and credential from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1986 and her bachelor's in anthropology from Pomona College in 1980. She has worked in the California education system since 1986. Labinger has received nine awards including local teacher of the year.
Kim Labinger may be reached at Thomas A. Edison Elementary School at 818-241-1807. She may also be reached through Carol Carbo of the Glendale Unified School District at 818-241-3111, or Vicky Limon of the Los Angeles County Office of Education at 562-922-6360.
Stanley Murphy of Chula Vista
San Diego High School
San Diego, San Diego County
Stanley Murphy of Chula Vista teaches social studies at San Diego High School in the city of San Diego, San Diego County. O'Connell also is nominating him to represent California in the National Teacher of the Year competition. He is one of five other educators from around the state named as California Teachers of the Year.
"The reason why I am naming Mr. Murphy Teacher of the Year and selected him for the national competition is because I am very impressed by his creation of a student and teacher exchange program with the Soviet Union," said O'Connell. "His work is serving as an agent for positive change and democratization that continues to influence hundreds of Russian students. His students in San Diego are also learning valuable lessons in the power of teaching history and how it affects people all over the world."
Murphy earned a master's degree in educational administration from San Diego State University in 1996 and his bachelor's and teaching credential from the University of California, Berkeley in 1971. He has worked in the California education system since 1971. Murphy served on a Social Studies-History Standards Committee for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. He started the International Friendship Club that precipitated a student and teacher exchange program with the Soviet Union and, later, Argentina and Austria.
Stanley Murphy may be reached at San Diego High School at 619-525-7455. He may also be reached through Steven Baratte of the San Diego Unified School District at 619-725-5578 or Jim Esterbrooks of the San Diego County Office of Education at 858-292-3719.
