Davide Busetti
Fourth Grade
Teacher
Wallace R. Davis Elementary School
Santa Ana, CA
Biographical Information:
Davide Busetti teaches fourth grade at Wallace R. Davis Elementary School in the Santa Ana Unified School District. He is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Italian. Colleagues describe Busetti as being phenomenal in the classroom and having a broad-based knowledge of educational theory, as well as an uncanny ability to put these theories into practice. Such abilities have helped his students' scores soar. Busetti is also known for his generosity in helping his students and their families. He has helped parents and families in crisis find jobs and homes.
Michelle Lipelt
Third Grade Teacher
Louis Milani Elementary School
Newark, CA
Biographical Information:
Michelle Leipelt is a third grade teacher at Louis Milani Elementary School in the Newark Unified School District , Alameda County. She is described by her colleagues as being an amazing educator with strong organizational skills. Leipelt's teaching methods have turned her classroom into a model for others. Many observers have visited her classroom and videotaped her teaching to help further hone the skills of other professionals.
Cyndi Paik
Assistant Principal
California Elementary School
Orange, CA
Biographical Information:
Cyndi Paik, an assistant principal at California Elementary in the Orange Unified School District. She is described by her colleagues as being an extraordinarily young yet natural leader with a depth of knowledge and insight that cannot be taught. Paik has the unique ability to promote collaboration among parents and staff in teaching children that helps promote student success. Test scores also have gone up since she's been on the job, which her colleagues attribute to Paik's involvement with teachers and her adoption of an English-language arts program of instruction.
Christine Wood
First Grade Teacher
Franklin Elementary School
Bakersfield, CA
Biographical Information:
Christine Wood is a first grade teacher at Franklin Elementary School in the Bakersfield City School District. She is described by her colleagues as a leader who educates students with respect, rewards them for learning, and has instilled in them a love of reading. Wood has organized several community events, raised donations, and successfully sought out grant money to help further her students' education. Despite being offered employment advances, Wood prefers to stay in the classroom.
