News Release and information regarding the California Teachers of the Year (CA TOY) Awardees for 2025.
Additional information can be found on the October 8, 2024, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2024 California Teachers of the Year News Release #24-45.
Matthew Winheim
National Teacher of the Year Candidate
Middle school; STEM Aviation and Mathematics
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy, Palmdale
Palmdale Unified School District, Los Angeles County
Matthew Winheim is a middle school STEM Aviation and Mathematics teacher at the Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy in the Palmdale Unified School District, Los Angeles County.
Superintendent Thurmond nominated Winheim as California’s representative for the National Teacher of the Year competition. Winheim will compete against other state nominees, and the 2025 National Teacher of the Year will be announced in the spring.
Kristen LoPrell
High school; Mathematics and AP Calculus
Grossmont High School, La Mesa
Grossmont Union High School District, San Diego County
Kristen LoPrell is a high school Mathematics and AP Calculus teacher at Grossmont High School in the Grossmont Union High School District, San Diego County.
Robert Mauger
High school; Career and Technical Education Transportation Automotive
Corona High School, Corona
Corona-Norco Unified School District, Riverside County
Robert Maugera is a high school Career and Technical Education Transportation Automotive teacher at Corona High School in the Corona-Norco Unified School District, Riverside County.
Nicholas Westfall
High school; Physical Education,
Alexander Hamilton Senior High School, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
Nicholas Westfall is a high school Physical Education teacher at Alexander Hamilton Senior High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County.
Arby Jean Wolkov
High school; American Sign Language
William Howard Taft Charter High School, Woodland Hills
Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
Arby Jean Wolkov is a high school American Sign Language teacher at William Howard Taft Charter High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County.