Gary Thomas, Ed.D. County Superintendent

Superintendent's Message

Teachers Of Year At Head Of Class

This time of year, we honor many groups who make a difference in public education. In June, the County Board of Education recognized the 2010 County Schools' Teacher of the Year and five other regional Teachers of the Year from our county-operated Student Services programs.

Teacher quality has the greatest impact on student academic achievement. As such, recognition of outstanding teaching is important, especially during these trying times with our state's economy. This year, Melissa Coronado, a special education teacher at the Carnelian School in Alta Loma, has been selected as the County Schools' Teacher of the Year and advances to be a nominee for the countywide Teacher of the Year program later this summer.

For the past eight years, Coronado has been teaching for County Schools. She works with moderate/severe students, and her passion for teaching is evident in talking to her about her students. "I know in my heart that the experiences I give to my students will help them find success," she wrote in her nomination for Teacher of the Year. Her students have found those successes despite the unique challenges they bring to the classroom.

The other SBCSS regional Teachers of the Year in the areas of Special Education, Regional Occupational Programs, State Preschool and Alternative Education, are:

• Karen Inge, a Special Education teacher in the East Valley region. She teaches at Redlands East Valley High School and has been with County Schools for 23 years, including more than 11 years as a paraeducator. Karen accepts the challenge of reaching out to her student population and helping them attain their educational goals. Even with a diverse and challenging environment, Inge enjoys helping her students discover the best ways to help them learn.
• Solveig Kruse, an entreprenuership class teacher with the County Schools' ROP since 2005 as an instructor at Barstow High School. With more than 18 years of experience as a teacher in the Barstow and Silver Valley school districts, Kruse does an excellent job relating real-world experiences to students about the concepts of starting and running their own businesses. She makes a real connection with students, who respond with strong growth in their learning.
• Joan O'Lear, a State Preschool teacher, who has been with County Schools since 2002. O'Lear works at Walnut State Preschool in Chino. O'Lear is completely dedicated to her students and revels in preparing them for the rigors of developing their minds and habits for the K-12 experience. Her tireless efforts help her students grasp the concepts that will allow them to be successful when they start kindergarten.
• Philip Turner, an Alternative Education teacher. Turner has taught building skills classes and auto shop for the past 10 years with County Schools, including his last five years at Bob Murphy County Community Day School in Rialto. Turner works collaboratively with businesses and social agencies in the communities that help with support for his students and programs at the school.
• Donald Stark, a Special Education teacher in the Desert/Mountain region. Starting out as a paraeducator, Stark has been a special education teacher for the past four years and works with mild/moderate at-risk students at Columbia Middle School in Adelanto. The enthusiasm and energy he puts into his work with middle school boys engages them in their school work and gives them a strong daily sense of their educational purpose.

The County Schools' regional teachers of the year are examples of the dedicated, devoted and inspiring education professionals instilling student learning and knowledge throughout our county. We count on our teachers to meet the educational needs of every student in their classroom and commend them for making a difference toward every child's success.