Recognition Surprises 4 Teachers of the Year

Four teachers were surprised in their classrooms Wednesday by John F. Dean, the county superintendent of schools, who came to announce that they were chosen as Orange County Teacher of the Year.

The award-winning teachers are Sheila Hillinger, an English and drama teacher at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo; Edlynn Zimmerman, an English teacher at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton; Robyn Tunstall, a world history teacher at Santiago Middle School in Orange; and Dottie Kimble, a third-grade teacher at Charles Wagner Elementary School in Placentia.

The teachers, chosen by a panel of Orange County educators and business leaders, will each be presented with a check for $15,000 at an awards breakfast in October. The cash award is funded by the Dr. James Hines Foundation, started in 1992 by county residents William and Sue Gross in recognition of Hines, who was a Saddleback Community College professor.

The award is also sponsored by the Orange County Department of Education, Orange County Board of Education and the Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union.

At Trabuco Hills, Hillinger was completely surprised by the announcement. She was in the library doing research with her logic and debate class when she was interrupted by Dean.

“It’s really exciting,” Hillinger said. “But I sometimes feel funny being rewarded for something that I’m just meant to do.”

Her students were excited but not too surprised about the announcement. They said Hillinger is a great teacher and deserved the recognition.

“She cares about us,” sophomore Sara Anthony said. “And she spends so much time with us.”