THREE LAUSD EDUCATORS WIN L.A. COUNTY TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AWARD: Top Teachers Honored for Innovative Practices

Written by Information Provided to San Fernando Valley Sun

JEAN BEAUREGARD

Wednesday, 30 September 2009  -- The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) proudly announces three Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) educators were named Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year (TOY) for 2009-2010 at a ceremony today in Universal City that honored the county's top teachers. Judged by their peers, the three LAUSD educators were among a group of 16 teachers named the "best of the best" in Los Angeles County public schools.

"Congratulations to these exceptional teachers," said Superintendent of Schools Ramon C. Cortines. "Our educators exemplify the caliber of the LAUSD teacher, and we commend their hard work and dedication to our students and to the teaching profession."

The winning LAUSD teachers for the 2009-2010 L.A. County Teachers of the Year are:

Carrie Ludwig, has been teaching 6th grade math and pre-algebra at Ivy Academia Entrepreneurial Charter School.

She has been a teacher for six years.

Jean Beauregard, has been a teacher for 30 years. She has been teaching adult education at the Pacoima Skills Center for 22 years.

W. Hali Metelak, has taught sixth through eighth grade English for three years at Vista Middle School. She has been teaching for eight years.

The "Sweet 16" winners were selected from a field of 66 competitors from the profession's 80,000 teachers countywide.

All of the candidates from the districts are all district/local district teachers of the year. The selection process begins with the Los Angeles County school districts submitting names and applications of their candidates to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) by May. The county selection process consists of two phases:

Phase I is the review of the applications and Phase II is an interview with a panel of judges. The LACOE Selection Committees evaluates the applications and interviews based on five areas: professional growth, commitment, personal attributes, professional skills and community involvement. Those selected will now move on to participate in the 2009-2010 California Teachers of the Year competition this fall.