EYE ON EDUCATION A Publication of the Paramount Unified School District
15110 CALIFORNIA AVE., PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 • TEL: 562-602-6000 • FAX: 562-634-6029
JUNE 2010
PARAMOUNT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR: 2010 CELEBRATION District staff, members of the Board of Education, and community leaders joined in the celebration of each school site’s Teacher of the Year at the District Office on May 11, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. during the Board of Education meeting. The program was moderated by Assistant Superintendent Stella Toibin and the Board of Education Trustees awarded the recipients a plaque. Teachers don’t always realize the impact they have had or can have in the life of a student, but this recognition reinforces the positive effect teachers have on the lives of students each and every day. Each year, teachers at each school site are asked to select one outstanding teacher who will represent that school in the District-wide Teacher of the Year selection process. In making that selection, teachers are asked to consider the following criteria: a teacher who is committed to continued professional development training, one who supports his/her colleagues to improve their skills, a teacher who is involved in educational activities beyond the school, a positive problem solver, one who delivers a high quality instructional program, and a teacher who communicates positively with students and parents. Once the District-wide Teacher of the Year has been determined through a Selection Committee of teachers and administrators from across the District, the one District-level recipient has the opportunity to apply for the Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year competition. If the candidate is identified as a County winner, their name moves forward to the State level of competition. This year’s 2010-11 Teachers of the Year and their school sites are as follows: Early Childhood Education Collins School Gaines School Jefferson School Keppel School Lincoln School Los Cerritos School Mokler School Roosevelt School Wirtz School Hollydale School Alondra School Jackson School Paramount Park School Tanner School Zamboni School Buena Vista High School Paramount High School-West Paramount High School Paramount Adult School
-
Danette Elaine Lane Larry V. Houston Michael Luckey Bonnie Jean Slater Janet L. Garcia Tiffany Short Monica Sanchez Yessenia Orozco Julie Quintero Deanne Teng Jason Simco John Ezra Stephens Rebecca Perez David Balstad Christina Escobar Lisa K. Kirk Pamela J. Gilreath Becky Bach-Cuc Vu Melissa Marchesini Kathleen Hoogendam
This year’s District-wide Teacher of the Year is David Balstad, a middle school mathematics teacher, from Paramount Park who has been teaching for eleven years. He attended California State University, Fullerton and received his Teaching Credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He started his career in a small private school and then came to Paramount. He has taught mathematics, social studies, science and English/Language Arts in grades 6-8 but his favorite subject to teach is teaching mathematics. Mr. Balstad has served in various leadership roles including the Safe and Civil Schools Committee at his site and the Middle School District Task Force, Professional Learning Community Team Leader, Prentice Hall Lead Teacher and has been a Support Provider for the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program. He has been honored by Roosevelt PTA receiving the Honorary Service Award and was also chosen Roosevelt Teacher of the Year in 2006. One of Mr. Balstad’s favorite quotations comes from the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu who said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” He shares that although a thousand miles may seem like a great distance, the rewards that the teaching profession brings continue to make it a very satisfying journey. He became a teacher because he wanted a job he could enjoy while having the opportunity to be a positive influence on people. Teaching is a career that provides both of these on a daily basis. He believes that working with today’s youth is an honor. Mr. Balstad cannot imagine another job that allows him a high degree of challenge yet he is able to keep a smile on his face. Being in the classroom provides him with the possibility each day to influence the minds and lives of your people by stimulating both their intellectual and social growth. He believes that making a difference in someone’s life is more important than anything else. Having a positive impact on his students is the thing that he enjoys the most about the teaching profession.
If you were to visit Mr. Balstad’s classroom you would see numerous motivational posters. His classroom is a place where student successes are highlighted. He strives for his students to understand that mistakes are simply an opportunity to learn and bad choices will not he held against them in the futures. The students know that they have a teacher who genuinely cares about them and will do all he can to help them succeed academically, socially and emotionally. One of the best ways that he knows to motivate students is by focusing on the positive. By giving positive feedback, students are encouraged
and will put in more efforts. The belief that every child can achieve at high level is one that drives him to be the best teacher he can be. Congratulations to David Balstad, Paramount Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year! He inspires all of us to do our best for the students and families of the Paramount Unified School District!
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES June 8, 2010 & June 22, 2010 Board of Education meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at the District Office, 15110 California Avenue, Paramount, and are open to the public