Former Alameda Teacher Honored

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Northgate High School teacher Margaret Honey was recently named Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year (TOY). Honey, who teaches 11th grade US history at the Walnut Creek school, received a visit from Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata who personally congratulated her.

Honey has also taught US history, world history, and ancient history to grades 6-12 at Queen of Saints Middle School, in Concord; Saint Perpetua Middle School, in Lafayette; and Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School, in Alameda. In addition, Honey has been an education-credential lecturer and instructor at St. Mary’s College, in Moraga since 2008.

When asked about her philosophy of teaching, Honey responds: “I endeavor to instill a passion for history in my students as well as develop them to be confident learners of history. My classes are rewarding, dynamic, and rigorous because I help my students enthusiastically engage with the curriculum as well as inspire them to connect personally to the people, social movements, and places we explore. My teaching philosophy centers on two principles: high expectations and support for all learners.”

Honey adds, “In the courses I teach, both at the high school and graduate school level, I clearly articulate my expectations to my students as well as provide them with the tools and resources to support their academic endeavors. I integrate technology into my daily teaching, and I utilize a variety of material to engage my students. My top priority as an educator of United States History is to develop citizen leaders who are able to celebrate our nation’s accomplishments as well as learn from injustices, and I present meaningful, differentiated lessons that inspire and inform my students. My teaching practice and the sources presented to my students help to develop them as critical thinkers, writers, and communicators.”

Three Walnut Creek teachers have been honored this year.

>>Walnut Creek Teacher Named Teacher of the Year

The other will be featured in coming days.

On the evening of September 28, 2017, the 22 Contra Costa County TOYs, class of 2017-18, will be introduced and honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Dinner Celebration, held at the Concord Hilton. A crowd of some 500 are expected to attend.

Throughout the school year, Superintendent Sakata makes it a point to visit each incoming TOY in their classrooms, prior to the Dinner Celebration. This is a great way for her to meet the teachers and their students, as well as take in the day’s lesson plan. When individually introducing the TOYs at the Dinner Celebration, Sakata will tell the audience about her visit and will quote one or two of the students’ remarks about their revered teacher.

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Currently, there are approximately 8,400 teachers educating more than 176,000 students in Contra Costa County’s public schools. To recognize their efforts and bring much-deserved honor to the teaching profession, the participating school districts in the county named their TOY representatives in mid March. The incoming 22 TOYs represent 17 Contra Costa County school districts, the Contra Costa Community College District, and the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE). Most of these representatives, those who teach grades K thru 12, are eligible to compete in the Contra Costa County TOY competition. The two top teachers in the county TOY program will represent Contra Costa County in the California State TOY Program this coming fall.

-Photo caption: (l-r) Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata, Northgate High School teacher Margaret Honey, Northgate High School Principal Michael McAlister.

-Photo Credit: Terry Koehne, CCCOE

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