Liz Parry of the Mountain View Whisman School District and Diane Sasaki of the Los Altos School District were among 30 teachers honored at an annual Santa Clara County Office of Education gala on Oct. 27.
More than 300 people attended the Santa Clara County Teacher Recognition Celebration in San Jose for the event’s 50th anniversary, according to a county education press release.
“Each teacher recognized at the celebration made one thing very clear, they care for their students and for their well-being as humans,” said Dr. David M. Toston, senior county superintendent. “They all emphasized that the connections made with students are how they make learning engaging and meaningful.”
The winners are selected by district administrators for their unique educational efforts and accolades.
Parry, a fifth-grade teacher at Landels Elementary School, said in a phone interview that she had been an educator for 20 years at Landels Elementary, teaching first, third and fifth grades. She taught for six years previously in the U.K.
“It was an honor to be recognized and it’s a reflection on how much work I’ve done as a teacher, but also the amount of work that’s required to be a teacher,” she said.
The ceremony also featured recorded interviews with the teachers in their classroom settings.
Sasaki, a special education teacher at Blach Junior High, is seen conversing with a classroom filled with students. She said her most memorable classroom moment was inspiring a student who at first didn’t enjoy science. Sasaki said she worked to make the subject more accessible and enjoyable, and eventually the student not only embraced the work, but even imagined a career in it.
“I think it’s for all my students, but it’s that moment where you see them struggling – then that lightbulb goes on and there’s that ‘aha’ moment,” she said in the recording.
In Parry’s featured clip, she acknowledges that it’s “tricky” to engage students in complicated content like William Shakespeare.
“I hope they remember my enthusiasm and excitement for teaching,” Parry said. “I hope they remember that they were able to take risks in my classroom and that they had fun doing something new.”
Jeffrey Baier, superintendent of the Mountain View Whisman School District, said in an email that Parry had made a commitment to joyful and innovative learning.
“Ms. Parry takes thoughtful risks in her instruction and because of that courage, her students don’t just learn; they discover,” he said. “Her enthusiasm is contagious, and she creates an environment where curiosity thrives and children feel inspired to try something new.”
Sandra McGonagle, superintendent of the Los Altos School District, said Sasaki was caring, collaborative, flexible and an exceptional teacher.
“She builds trusting relationships with students and parents, goes above and beyond in her preparation for her classes, informally mentors new teachers and is active in creating an inclusive and welcoming culture for students and teachers at the Blach campus,” McGonagle said.
The first teacher recognition celebration was held in 1970 and founded by Frank and Pauline Lowe, San Jose residents who felt teachers deserved more recognition.
According to the county education website, the first ceremony even featured a keepsake program with official commendations.
“The shaping of young lives and the building of responsible citizens by our educational system depend upon the interest and abilities of those who have dedicated themselves to the teaching profession,” wrote then-Governor Ronald Reagan in the award pamphlet.
