By Daily Press staff
Four local educators have been named “Teacher of the Year” by the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District.
On May 15, the school board will recognize the teachers who were selected by their peers.
As representatives of all the teachers in the school district, the 2002-2003 Teachers of the Year possess the skills, talent, creativity and dedication to the education of children that make the local schools outstanding learning environments, school officials said.
Of the three schools that participated in the program this year, four teachers were selected. They are: Laurel Thorne of Cabrillo Elementary; Lisa Bartoli of Franklin Elementary, Susan Dilamarter of Franklin Elementary and Dr. Christine Hovest of McKinley Elementary School.
Hovest was additionally honored as Teacher of the Year. As early as third grade, Hovest knew she wanted to be a teacher. A Miller Unruh reading specialist serving kindergarten through fifth grade students at McKinley Elementary School, Hovest delivers her “I can and I will learn to read well and write well attitude” to all her students.
“I have found that showing children how to build a scaffold of new learning upon what they already know is intrinsically motivating,” she said.
When asked what she considers to be the major issues in public education today, Hovest said, “For teachers, the major issue in public education today is teaching well. Today’s teachers face tough challenges and must avoid getting sidetracked by media and politics. Doing our jobs well is paramount. We work with children, assuring that they acquire essential skills necessary for their futures. Simultaneously, we must continue to grow ourselves. We work hard to help students find their true academic potential and push it to the limit.”
Wendy Wax, principal at McKinley Elementary School said Hovest’s teaching skills help low achieving students.
“I have watched her with amazement bring children’s literacy abilities up to grade level standards,” Wax said. “She includes the students’ parents and their teachers along the way. Christi is an exceptional educator who demonstrates high academic standards for herself, her students, and her colleagues. I could never imagine a better, more qualified teacher to represent all others as 2002-2003 Teacher of the Year.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 4, 2003. Read the original PDF.