LAS VIRGENES : Teachers Compete for State Honor
Four teachers from the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys and Las Virgenes area are among a dozen instructors who will represent Los Angeles County in a competition for the state’s top teaching honor.
The 12 county finalists were chosen from a field of 67 teachers already recognized as teacher of the year in their respective school districts, said Janice Crawford, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
The county finalists will compete against 60 other candidates from across the state for the five California Teacher of the Year awards that are given annually.
State winners will be announced next month, Crawford said.
One of the five will be chosen to represent California in the national competition next spring.
Finalists from the area are Anna Mae Haas of Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills; Carolyn McWilliams Bogad of Sherman Oaks Elementary School; Susie Shapiro of Northridge Middle School; and Gaylene Van Zijll of Placerita Junior High School in Newhall.
The finalists were judged on their teaching philosophy, knowledge of current educational trends and issues, community involvement and professional history, among other criteria, Crawford said.
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