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District Teachers Named San Diego County Teacher of the Year, Finalist

District Teachers Named San Diego County Teacher of the Year, Finalist
Posted on 09/09/2019

San Diego Unified's Hilda Martinez Honored as a County Teacher of the Year

Zamorano Fine Arts Academy's Hilda Martinez was named one of five San Diego County Teachers of the Year, and Jenny Lieu of Lincoln High School was recognized as a finalist at the 29th Annual Salute to Teachers event hosted by the San Diego County Office of Education and Cox Communications.

A resource teacher at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy, Martinez describes school as "the greatest of all cheerleaders" for struggling students. “I want them to know that their school community is filled with people who believe in them just as someone believed in me,” Martinez said.

Lieu teaches math at Lincoln High School. She believes that math problem-solving helps prepare students for life. “Once my students find confidence in themselves and their abilities to learn, their success is limitless,” Lieu said.

Friends, family members, colleagues, parents, and students joined the celebration to cheer on the district's outstanding teachers who were vying for the county honor. "So proud of Hilda Martinez, one of our amazing educators - and a San Diego County Teacher of the Year! I'm ecstatic to celebrate her win tonight," tweeted Superintendent Cindy Marten from the event. "Our teachers truly make San Diego a better place--thank you!"

Martinez and Lieu were honor Teacher of the Year

Martinez and Lieu were among four San Diego Unified School District Teachers of the Year eligible for the county honor. Other nominees included Michelle “Mickey" Sullivan, a science teacher at Balboa Elementary School; and Kris Rodenberg, who teaches AP Art History, psychology and other subjects at Mt. Everest Academy. Two other district teachers were also honored: Teacher of the Year Roosevelt Johnson from Wilson Middle School and Runner-Up Julie Latta from Muirlands Middle School. Read more about our teachers.

Along with Martinez, the following individuals were named 2019-20 San Diego County Teachers of the Year: Don Dumas, Bonita Vista High School, Sweetwater Union High School District; Christine Hansen, Quantum Academy, Escondido Union School District; Nicole Miller, Mission Hills High School, San Marcos Unified School District; and Kelly Tulloch, Mountain Empire High School, Mountain Empire Unified School District.

Teacher of the Year Awards

The five 2019-20 County Teachers of the Year were selected from among 42 Teacher of the Year nominees representing San Diego County school districts, out of the county's 22,000 public school teachers. Selected teachers were nominated for their commitment to students, teaching, and lifelong learning. The five teachers will go on to represent the area in the California Teacher of the Year program. The state winners will be announced later this fall.Winners of the State program will go on to compete for the National Teacher of the Year honors.

The Annual Salute to Teachers is an Oscar-style black-tie event that pays tribute to all teachers in the region. Student performances during the show included: musician Marissa Grace; Theatre Boys Acapella, a group of singers from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, Patrick Henry, and Poway high schools; and students from Infinity Dance and Performing Arts. Veteran San Diego broadcast journalist Dennis Morgigno and radio personality Delana Bennett hosted this year's show.

Replays of Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers will be televised by Cox and Charter Cable on YurView Channel 4/1004 on the following dates: Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 15 and 29 at 6:30 p.m.; and Dec. 27 at 6:30 p.m. KUSI will also re-air the show this fall. For a complete listing of replay dates and times, go to yurview.com.

Media coverage:

San Diego Union Tribune: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2019-09-07/five-educators-chosen-as-san-diego-county-teachers-2019

San Diego County Office of Education Announcement: https://www.sdcoe.net/news/Pages/2019-20-san-diego-teachers-of-the-year.aspx

KUSI Channel 9: http://mms.tveyes.com/transcript.asp?StationID=2585&DateTime=9/8/2019%208:09:47%20AM&playclip=true&pbc=search%3a%2b(teacher+of+the+year) and continued http://mms.tveyes.com/transcript.asp?StationID=2585&DateTime=9/8/2019%208:16:14%20AM&playclip=true&pbc=search%3a%2b(teacher+of+the+year)