IRVINE : Education Group to Honor Teachers

The Irvine Teachers Assn. will honor more than 30 educators at an awards dinner May 12. The ceremony will recognize the accomplishments of outstanding teachers from each of the Irvine Unified School District’s 30 campuses. Association officials will also honor three “teachers of the year”--one from an elementary school, one from a middle school and one from a high school.

The Teacher of the Year in the elementary school division is Max F. Cantu, who teaches third grade at Santiago Hills Elementary School. Cantu has been a mentor teacher, a Fulbright scholar and has helped students learn about computers.

In the middle school division, the association will honor Lois Knudson, who teaches developmentally disabled students at Lakeside Middle School. Knudson has served as a coordinator for the local Special Olympics and worked as an elementary school principal.

Sally Wilde is the high school Teacher of the Year. Wilde teaches ceramics at Woodbridge High School and has advised the school’s Ceramics Club and Ethnic Student Union.

Wilde, Knudson, Cantu and 30 other teachers will receive plaques and crystal apples. The teachers were selected by a committee made up of Irvine Unified School District administrators, teachers and representatives of the Exchange Club.

“I think this is important because it shows the value of teaching and the educational process,” said Steve Garretson, president of the Irvine Teachers Assn. “Teachers are critical to the education of our youths.”

The ceremony will take place at the Irvine Marriott. For more information, call (714) 651-1004.