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 2011
PARAMOUNT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR: 2011 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 Progress Park on May 11, 2011 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 2011-12 Teachers of the Year and their school sites are as follows: Early Childhood Education Alondra School Collins School Gaines School Hollydale School Jackson School Jefferson School Keppel School Lincoln School Los Cerritos School Mokler School Paramount Park School Roosevelt School Tanner School Wirtz School Zamboni School Buena Vista High School Paramount High School-West Paramount High School Paramount Adult School
- Angelica Rodriguez - Maria Enciso - Susan Deogracias - Josephine Alvarez - Grace C. Yu - Kelly Murphy - Trenise Coleman - Maria Aragon - Irene Pritchett-Romero - Janet Wardell - Theresa Maeva Marie Diaz - Tracy Michelle Casdorph - Rosie Zepeda - Nancy Moua - Erik Caruso - Randall R. Reza - Laura Rheaume - Gwendolyn Anctil - Fabiola Barcena - Ashley Ruiz
The District-wide Teacher of the Year is determined through a Selection Committee of teachers and administrators from across the District and will have the opportunity to apply for the Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year competition. This year’s Teacher of the Year, Randall Reza, is an educator who has been teaching in the middle school grades for seven years. He is the first in his immediate family to graduate from college and become an educator. He is currently finishing a master’s program in Educational Administra-
tion and hopes to complete an Ed.D from USC. He strongly believes that every child has strengths and weaknesses, and an educator must observe, analyze and distinguish how to influence and affect each student. Having an opportunity to teach music in Paramount has been a blessing and a dream come true. Although the middle school band, orchestra and choir are only in their second year of implementation, it has been a great start and the program will continue to flourish under his direction. Mr. Reza believes that there is no other job that influences so many and grants such enormous satisfaction as teaching. Sometimes he
can’t believe he is being paid to work with children. He believes in every student and is committed to sharing his time and patience to help students. He wants to give students the gift of music and art and is honored to have a career that allows him to do this. Mr. Reza is an advocate of character- building. He models his expectations by demonstrating the behavior that he wishes to see. He shows fairness, promotes equity and models respect. As a music teacher, he influences students to develop discipline, confidence and pride in their school work. What was once thought of as impossible becomes a reality through teaching music.
The most important element that makes teaching the greatest job of all is the students. He loves working with children and the long hours, sleepless nights of concern; unending grading of papers is all worth it to have the peace of mind that he attempted to make the world a better place. He goes to work every day for his students. They continuously bring him joy, sometimes frustration, but overall a more complete life. In addition to his dedication to students, Mr. Reza was awarded the Honorary Service Award from Zamboni’s PTA in recognition of his outstanding teacher leadership and dedication to the Zamboni parents and community. Congratulations to Randall R. Reza, Paramount Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year!
Hollydale Fifth Grade Students Go to Music Center! Hollydale School is excited to report that the fifth grade students from Hollydale were selected to attend the Blue Ribbon Children’s Festival at the Los Angeles Music Center on Tuesday, April 5th. The Blue Ribbon Children’s Festival is an annual event sponsored by the Music Center which provides artistic experiences to children through performance. Assistant Superintendent Stella Toibin had suggested to school sites that they submit their school as a potential candidate for this wonderful opportunity. Hollydale principal Mrs. Marilley was thrilled when Hollydale School was selected by the Music Center to participate in the event. The students, teachers, parent chaperones, and Mrs. Marilley took a bus to the Music Center where they were greeted by members of the Blue Ribbon
Children’s Festival. The group first enjoyed a performance by the Diavolo Dance Company, a troupe which specializes in acrobatic movements in their routines. The students sat in awe as they watched the dancers perform seemingly impossible feats of movement and gymnastics. After the performance by Diavolo the students proceeded to the front of the Music Center where they joined fifth grade students from other districts. All of the students had been taught a Native American dance
by their teachers at their respective schools and on April 5th they came together to perform the dance. How exciting to watch thousands of young people share in this unique experience! The field trip to the Music Center was a special event that will be remembered for a long time by all who had the opportunity to attend. Susan Marilley, Principal Hollydale School
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING DATES June 8, 2011 & June 22, 2011 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