2 Contra Costa Co. Teachers Of The Year Named At Annual Gala

CONCORD, CA— Diablo View Middle School science teacher Shay Kornfeld and Pittsburg High School P.E. teacher Maureen Mattson were named Contra Costa County's 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey announced Thursday evening to a crowd of more than 400 in attendance at the annual Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year — TOYs — Dinner Gala.

Kornfeld and Mattson were among 22 deserving county school district teachers honored at the Hilton Concord event.

Kornfeld is also the Robotics Club adviser at Mt. Diablo Unified School District's Diablo View Middle School in Clayton, where he has been teaching for three years. Five years prior, Kornfeld taught grades fourth and fifth at Fair Oaks Elementary School in Pleasant Hill.

Kornfeld says he chose teaching as a career after being lucky enough to grow up in a loving household with educated parents and grandparents who fostered his sense of curiosity and adventure.

He also recalls a certain teacher who may have had something to do with his career choice.

"Then, I had a teacher, Glen Barker [2018 CCCOE Teacher of the Year], who made school feel like summer camp for the first time in my life,” Kornfeld said. "Without these amazing people, perhaps I would not have chosen the career path I have – but choose it I did, and what an amazing ride thus far!"

As for Mattson, who has been a positive fixture as a Pittsburg High School P.E. teacher for 33 years, her biggest influence was her father, Bob Mattson.

"He was a physical education teacher, department chair, athletic director, and coach of multiple sports at Hollister High School for 38 years," Mattson said.

Along with teaching physical education, Mattson has served in many other roles, including as the school's girls basketball coach, assistant principal and assistant athletic director. In addition, she coaches students in the Unified Sports program, which pairs students with disabilities with non-disabled students to compete in sporting events.

Kornfeld and Mattson’s pathways to becoming this year’s Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year were quite the endeavor, according to Jonathan Lance, spokesman for CCCOE.

"After both teachers were named Teacher of the Year by their school districts, last March, Kornfeld and Mattson successfully proceeded, with the other 19, K-12 eligible county candidates, through a rigorous countywide selection process, including an application screening, classroom evaluation and interview, and speech presentation," Lance said.

Their two fellow finalists were Gina Capelli, Liberty Union High School District (Liberty High School) and DarVisa Marshal, Antioch Unified School District, (Antioch Middle School).

The evening's sizable audience included the TOYs’ family members and friends, as well as numerous local educators, business partners and elected-official representatives, Lance said.

Kicking off the festivities was a musical performance provided by the Deer Valley High School Chorus, directed by Michelle Stark (2018-2019 Antioch Unified School District TOY).

There was also a 20-minute video featuring a visit to each of the honored TOYs’ classrooms, complete with short interviews of their raving students:

Superintendent Mackey then individually introduced the TOY class of 2019-2020, giving each of them a chance once on stage to speak about which teacher inspired them to pursue a career in education.

Afterward, the four finalists each presented a short speech, incorporating the topic: "What I have learned from my students."

"The highly anticipated announcement of the two new county TOYs concluded the exciting festivities with a loud ovation," Lance said.

Kornfeld and Mattson will now participate with all the other California county representatives in the California State TOY competition. The California State Teachers of the Year are expected to be announced by mid-October. The county TOY program is coordinated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education.