2013 California Teachers of the Year
From left to right: Veronica Marquez, Sebastien De Clerk, David Goldenberg, I'Asha Warfield, and Martin Reisert.
Sebastien Paul De Clerck
Grades
9–12, French and Italian
Ventura High School, Ventura
Ventura Unified School District, Ventura County
"I teach all students. I know their individual potential and I mould myself and my teaching to suit. My energy, my patience, my passion, my love of youth, my knowledge of what I teach and respect for whom I teach are the elements that make me the teacher I am." — Sebastien Paul De Clerck, from his 2013 California Teacher of the Year Application
Sebastien De Clerck has been teaching French and Italian at Ventura High School since 2005. His prior experience includes teaching French, English, grade nine study skills and college readiness, as well as serving as the World Language Department Chair at Ventura High School and as the Gifted and Talented Education coordinator at San Marcos High School. He also taught multiple subjects at the Soledad Enrichment Action Charter School.
"Mr. De Clerck's passion for teaching foreign language is very evident in the way he interacts with his students," said Torlakson. "He not only respects his students, he knows they want to learn, and has high expectations for them in the classroom. His colleague, Dan Nelson, said it best, that De Clerck ‘does not just close the achievement gap, he demolishes it' by the way he teaches."
Mr. De Clerck earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and philosophy at the University of Southern California. He earned his Single Subject Teaching Credential at California State University, Northridge; and an Italian Language & Culture Certificate from the Università di Firenze. De Clerk won numerous accolades, including the Ventura County Office of Education Educator of the Year, Ventura Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Month, and Barnes & Noble "My Favorite Teacher" Award, among others. De Clerck is also a member of several professional associations, including the Ventura Unified Educators' Association, California Teachers Association, and National Educators Association, among others.
Sebastien De Clerck may be reached through Ventura High School at sebastien.declerck@venturausd.org or 805-641-5116, extension 2225.
David Goldenberg
Grades 10–11, History
Arnold O. Beckman High School, Irvine
Tustin Unified School District, Orange County
"I do not see students as they are today, but as the people that they can become—I want my students to see possibilities, to overcome adversity, and to become the best versions of themselves."— David Goldenberg, from his 2013 California Teacher of the Year Application
David Goldenberg has taught Advanced Placement and honors classes in world history at Arnold O. Beckman High School since 2005. His prior experience includes teaching world history at A.G. Currie Middle School and teaching on special assignment at Tustin Unified School District. He also has extensive experience providing staff development, mentorships, and training for other teachers.
"Mr. Goldenberg makes history come alive for his students that makes them feel engaged and eager to learn," said Torlakson. "He sees his career as a calling to serve his country in a profession that has meaning. Every school day, he teaches as if it's a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of his students."
Mr. Goldenberg earned his Master of Science degree in educational leadership and his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at California State University, Fullerton. He also earned his Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development Single Subject Teaching Credential in social science at National University. Goldenberg won numerous accolades, including Teacher of the Year at Tustin Unified School District, Beckman High School, and Currie Middle School, among others.
David Goldenberg may be reached through Arnold O. Beckman High School at dgoldenberg@tustin.k12.ca.us or 714-734-2900.
Veronica Marquez
Grade 5, Multiple Subjects
Harmony Elementary School, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
"I make home visits to better understand the students I serve…. I establish a positive relationship with parents and students that transfer into the classroom. I believe it is my duty to empower my students to be agents of change." — Veronica Marquez, from her 2013 California Teacher of the Year Application
Verinica Marquez has taught multiple subjects, Gifted and Talented Education, Sheltered English Immersion, and bilingual education at Harmony Elementary School since 2004. Prior to this, she taught at Trinity Elementary School. She also has extensive experience providing staff development, mentorships, and training for other teachers.
"Ms. Marquez has made a remarkable journey as a child from the inner city and then decided to stay in her community to help lift other children out of lives of poverty and despair," said Torlakson. "She sees herself as a gardener who watches her students bloom under her leadership, and sees her students as scholars worthy of better lives."
Ms. Marquez earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology at University of California, Los Angeles. She also received her National Board Certification in English as a New Language. She received her Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development Certificate from UCLA Extension, and her Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at Los Angeles Unified School District, District Intern Program. She is also a member of several professional organizations including the National Teachers Association, California Teachers Association, and United Teachers Los Angeles. Marquez received the Los Angeles Unified School District Teacher of the Year award.
Veronica Marquez may be reached through Harmony Elementary School at vxv1119@lausd.net or 323-238-0791.
Martin Reisert
Grade 6, Multiple Subjects
Oak Valley Middle School, San Diego
Poway Unified School District, San Diego County
"I have based the core of my teaching philosophy on these four words, ‘I believe in you.' When children know I believe in them, learning occurs, and they begin to believe in themselves." — Martin Reisert, from his 2013 California Teacher of the Year Application
Martin Reisert has taught multiple subjects, Gifted and Talented Education, and Resource Specialist Program clusters at Oak Valley Middle School since 2005. His prior experience includes teaching similar subjects at Bernardo Heights Middle School and Chaparral Elementary School. He also has extensive experience providing staff development, mentorships, and training for other teachers.
"Mr. Reisert became the wonderful teacher he is today by living through a challenging childhood and the joy of having a teacher who believed in him," said Torlakson. "He knows if he can instill a sense of confidence in his students, then they can succeed and change their lives for the better."
Mr. Reisert earned his Master of Science degree in education-elementary education and Bachelor degree in business administration at Dowling College, New York. He received his Teaching Credential from the State of New York as well as California. He is a member of two professional associations, the Poway Federation of Teachers and the United States Professional Tennis Association. He also received numerous accolades, including San Diego County Teacher of the Year, Poway Unified School District Teacher of the Year, and Oak Valley Middle School Teacher of the Year, among others.
Martin Reisert may be reached through Oak Valley Middle School at mreisert@powayusd.com.
I'Asha Warfield
National Teacher of the Year Candidate
Grade 7, English
Frick Middle School, Oakland
Oakland Unified School District, Alameda County
"It is my aim that students are able to use their life experiences and connect them to the world through analysis and evaluation. Simultaneously, I hope that with the skills they develop they are able to look beyond their own experience to critically and creatively engage in this world." — I'Asha Warfield, from her 2013 California Teacher of the Year Application
I'Asha Warfield has taught English and reading intervention, and world history at Frick Middle School since 2000. She also works as a coach in the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program to help guide new teachers through their self-assessment process in order to clear their California credential. Warfield serves as a representative in Frick's Instructional Leadership Team to help assess the instructional needs of the school through data analysis and teacher feedback. She also works as a consultant to the Bay Area Writing Project that presents teacher trainings on secondary literacy with an emphasis on writing. Her prior experience includes working as a consultant with the California Reading and Literature Project; a corps member advisor at Teach for America Summer Institute; a collaborating teacher at the University of California, Berkeley and Mills College; and an assistant language teacher with the Japanese Exchange Teaching Programme, Miyagi, Japan.
"Ms. Warfield has an innovative way to ensure her students are learning, by having them write down their own daily learning targets," said Tom Torlakson. "Then she uses these learning target sheets to evaluate whether the students master the lesson that also helps inform her of how well she is teaching. This constant cycle of evaluation keeps her students learning and keeps herself at the top of her game."
Ms. Warfield earned a Master of Science degree in Education at California State University (CSU), East Bay; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology at Occidental College. She earned her Single Subject—English Teaching Credential at CSU, East Bay; and her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at Patten University. Warfield received numerous accolades, including Oakland's Honoring Our Own Secondary Teacher, Oakland Teacher of the Year, and Phi Alpha Alpha Outstanding Teacher awards.
I'Asha Warfield may be reached through Frick Middle School at iasha.warfield@ousd.k12.ca.us or 510-729-7736.