2 in the Running for Teacher of the Year

Two Orange County teachers are among eight semifinalists for 1989 California Teacher of the Year, the state Department of Education announced Monday in Sacramento.

They are Shirley Bebereia of Santa Ana Valley High School and Katherine Emiko Schymick of Lexington Junior High in Cypress.

Four finalists will be selected from among the eight, and one of those will be the teacher of the year. The state Education Department said the finalists and teacher of the year will be announced about Nov. 14, after observations and interviews by contest officials.

Bebereia is a teacher of English as a second language, and Schymick is an English and reading teacher.

The Department of Education chose the semifinalists from nominees from all 58 counties. Orange County had four nominees this year; the others were Genie Aguilar, a third-grade teacher at Santiago Hills Elementary School in Irvine, and Kathleen Iverson, a chemistry and physical science teacher at Westminster High.

Orange County health organizations have begun a program against drunk driving aimed at teen-agers and young adults in the coming holiday season.

“Drive Alive ‘88” calls for high school and college students to write public service announcements warning against drunk driving. The 20- and 50-second messages will be broadcast on county radio stations during the winter holidays.

Prizes will be awarded on the high school and college levels: $500 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third.

The deadline is Nov. 2. Entries must be received by the Orange County Health Care Agency, Room 418, 515 N. Sycamore St., Santa Ana, Calif. 92701.

“Experience teaches you to recognize a mistake when you’ve made it again.”

--Unknown