San Diego County’s Top Educators Compete for Cox Teacher of the Year Honor

Forty local educators recognized by their school districts as Teachers of the Year are nominated for San Diego County Teachers of the Year later this month.

Five will be named at a special reception on Friday, August 26, as part of the 32nd editionCox Presents: Tribute to Teacherssponsored by San Diego County Credit Union.

Food Network personality and San Diego Magazine owner Troy Johnson will serve as host for the evening. Johnson is from San Diegan and attended Mt. Carmel and Poway high schools.

In partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education, Cox Communications will produce a one-hour special to recognize local teachers, spotlight teachers of the year and share reception highlights.

The show will air at 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 2, YourView Network (Cox Channel 4).

The annual event recognizes the county’s more than 24,000 public school teachers and will feature music and dance performances by local students leading up to the announcement of the five teachers of the year, who will represent the region while arguing California Teachers of the Year honors.

The 40 local nominees were chosen by their respective school districts. The five teachers of the year will be selected based on student achievement, professional development, school community involvement, teaching philosophy, knowledge of educational issues, promotion of the profession teacher, responsibility and the ability to serve as ambassadors of education.

The nominees are:

• Alpine Union School District – Christine Morales, Boulder Oaks Elementary
• Bonsall Unified School District – Amy Tull, Vivian Banks Charter
• Carlsbad Unified School District – Amanda Tsoi, Valley Middle School
• Cajon Valley Union School District—Jessica Eaton, Meridian Elementary
• Chula Vista Elementary School District – Cynthia Montaño, Lilian J. Rice Elementary
• Chula Vista Elementary School District – Jonathan Seligman, Joseph Casillas Elementary
• Chula Vista Elementary School District – Sarah Ortega, Harborside Elementary
• Del Mar Union School District – Stephanie Cluxton, Torrey Hills School
• Escondido Union School District—Carla Hodge, Felicita Elementary
• Escondido Union School District – Johanna Vigil-DeLeon, Rincon Middle School
• Fallbrook Union Elementary School District – Breena Bogikes, William H. Frazier Elementary
• Grossmont Union School District — Stephanie LaBerge-Luhnow, Grossmont High School
• Grossmont Union School District – Rachel Moritz, Mount Miguel High School
• La Mesa-Spring Valley School District – Madeline Spence, La Mesa Academy of the Arts
• Lakeside Union School District – Tina Hober, Lakeside Farms Elementary School
• Lemon Grove School District – Kathryn Kelly, Monterey Heights Elementary
• Mountain Empire Unified School District – Sheri Miller, Potrero Dual Language Academy
• National School District – Jacqueline Ma, Lincoln Acres Elementary
• Oceanside Unified School District – Rebecca Miceli, Del Rio Elementary
• Oceanside Unified School District – Kristina Vasquez, El Camino High School
• Poway Unified School District – Andrea Ford, Westview High School
• Poway Unified School District – Jeanne “Nay” Flinn, Connect Academy
• Poway Unified School District – Aimee McCoy, Mesa Verde Middle School
• Ramona Unified School District – Kaylene Weber, Barnett Elementary
• San Diego County Office of Education – Cindy Stallo. 37 ECB Community School
• San Diego Unified School District – Andrea Loyko, Clay Elementary
• San Diego Unified School District – Joe Paulson, Marston Middle School
• San Diego Unified School District – Josh Rosenberg, Scripps Ranch High School
• San Diego Unified School District – Kimberly Frank, Standley Middle School
• San Dieguito Union School District – Timothy Stiven, Canyon Crest Academy
• San Pasqual Union School District – Kymbee McKay, San Pasqual Union Elementary School
• San Ysidro School District—Juanita Nuñez, Ocean View Hills/Sunset/Smythe/
• Willow/La Mirada Elementary School
• Santee School District — Tara O’Connell, PRIDE Academy
• South Bay Union School District — Monica Hueso-Melgar, Emory Academy of Global Leadership and Empowerment
• Sweetwater Union School District—Melissa Rains. Castle Park Secondary School
• Sweetwater Union School District – Katrine Czajkowski, Mar Vista High School
• Sweetwater Union School District – Marko Gutierrez, San Ysidro High School
• Sweetwater Union High School District – Taffy Tom, Chula Vista Middle School
• Sweetwater Union High School District – Francisco Medina. South West High School