District to Honor Year’s Top Educators

Thirty educators from throughout the Ventura Unified School District will be honored today during the seventh annual Golden Wings Awards for Teacher Excellence.

The evening event is the culmination of a selection process that began in January when parents, business leaders, educators and other community members nominated and selected exemplary teachers from each school in the Ventura district.

A selection committee then visited each classroom to select five teachers to be highlighted at this year’s event, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Ventura.

The awards ceremony is sponsored by the school district and the Ventura Education Partnership. The Ventura Chamber of Commerce also was instrumental in raising money to offer honorariums to all 30 teachers.

“One great thing about Golden Wings is that people from our community evaluate and select the recipients,” said Donald Wood Jr., president of the education partnership. “That means the community at large is made aware of the quality of our public schools and teachers.”

The five teachers to be highlighted at this year’s event are Katherine Barsch, Loma Vista Elementary; Jacqueline Boyd, Pacific High School; Lisa Miller, Mound Elementary; Marlene Saddler, Poinsettia Elementary; and Gary Sullivan, De Anza Middle School.

The other teachers who will be honored are Constance Brooks, Arnaz Elementary; Susan Bryson-Edgar, Anacapa Middle School; Cheryl Burns, Portola Elementary; Michael Cragin, Balboa Middle School; Joan Curtis, Anacapa Middle School; Debra Everton, Lincoln Elementary; Edward R. Fitz-Patrick, alternative programs; Kelli Friedman, E.P. Foster Elementary; Debra Garmon, Saticoy Elementary; Carolyn Gleisberg, Pierpont School; Janice Hastie, Oak View Elementary; Lynne Hofflund, Cabrillo Middle School; Susan Lane, Junipero Serra Elementary; Anne Magoon, Blanche Reynolds Elementary; Barbara Marsh, adult education; Anna Moraga, Will Rogers Elementary; Barbara Morris, Balboa Middle School; Mason Parrish, Buena High; Patricia Post, Ventura High; Mary Lou Roberts, Juanamaria Elementary; Renee Sutton, Sheridan Way Elementary; Darlene Sweatt, Elmhurst Elementary; Michael Takazono, Ventura High; Stephanie Talley, Montalvo Elementary; and Richard Underhill, Buena High.