NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Teacher Is in the Running for National Prize

Parents say Cindy Bean’s kindergarten classroom at Colfax Avenue Elementary School is a magical learning kingdom, so it was no wonder to them Wednesday when the Disney Channel showed up to capture it on tape.

Bean, who has been teaching for more than 20 years, was the only Valley candidate selected from among nearly 1,000 applicants nationwide as one of the 60 finalists for the Walt Disney Co.’s American Teacher Awards. She was nominated in the early childhood education category.

Disney executives said Bean’s five-minute videotaped profile will be aired by the Disney Channel next fall, after the American Teacher Awards. During this event, 36 of the 60 teachers will be honored as winners in the 12 categories, along with one Outstanding Teacher of 1993.

Kate Di Persio said Bean worked magic on her 6-year-old son Robbie when he entered her class.

“He was very shy and now he’s able to really express himself in a wonderful way,” Di Persio said.

Bean was nominated by the parents of her students, but Di Persio said they could have circulated a petition in the neighborhood and received as many signatures.

“I can’t tell you how many times in my neighborhood I hear, ‘Oh, he has Mrs. Bean. I had her. She was my favorite teacher.’ This is coming from 17-year-olds,” Di Persio said.

Bean credits the children, who use lima beans instead of textbooks to learn how to add and who prefer to make their own paper.

“Learning really takes place with children teaching other children,” she said.