Hands-On Approach Earns Fountain Valley Native Prestigious Teaching Award

Kelly Sullivan Perez understands elementary school students. The San Jacinto Valley Academy teacher, who teaches second grade, shuns the worksheet and instead focuses on applicable, real-life issues for her students.

Perez’s passion and dedication to teaching and her positive influence on educational issues are what earned the Fountain Valley native the nomination and selection by the California Charter Schools Association as Charter School Teacher of the Year for 2011.

Perez was nominated by Penny Harrison, CEO of San Jacinto Valley Academy. Harrison said of Perez, “Kelly personifies the consummate educational pioneer and leader, and she instills in all her students a true love for learning.”

For Perez, teaching is about taking life experiences and turning them into learning opportunities.

When Perez was told that she was named the Charter School Teacher of the Year among a few dozen nominees from the 982 charter schools in California, her students were ecstatic.

However, Perez had a small dilemma. When her second graders said they wanted to accompany her to Sacramento for the 19^th Annual California Charter Schools Conference on Feb. 27, where Perez will be presented the Hart Vision Award, Perez knew the feat would be impractical for her students. But instead of telling her class this she allowed them to get to this conclusion on their own with only “facilitation” on her part.

“Many of them wanted to know why they didn’t get to go, and explaining that turned into a lesson on sending representatives,” Perez said. “That took on a life of its own. I turned it into a lesson on why we send representatives to Congress. I explained to them I will be representing them and how they will be there with me because I’m taking their voices with me and saying how wonderful they are.”

Some of the students remained stubborn and determined to attend, so Perez allowed them to pitch ideas on selling items to pay for a bus ride.  Eventually, the students realized the impracticality of them attending the conference.

Perez uses a similar approach to her teaching. She prefers hands-on experimentation for her students over standard worksheets, and realizes that the small window of attention of her young students is best kept through an interactive approach that keeps them interested and constantly learning.

“I don’t tell them how to do it,” Perez said. “I facilitate and say, ‘How are we going to do this?’” 

Once when her students were unhappy with not being allowed to play on the school’s soccer field, which was only intended for the academy’s older students, Perez prepped her students and sent class representatives to explain their discontent before a group of administrators. As a result, the younger students were allowed limited access to the soccer field.

Perez’s mother, Irene Sullivan Malouff, also recognizes her daughter’s commitment to her teaching. She said the recognition her daughter has received from the California Charter Schools Association has been wonderful.

“It is well-deserved,” Malouff said. “She works really hard and she loves what she does and takes great pleasure in the school and in the kids succeeding.” 

The Hart Vision Award is given annually to a charter school teacher who demonstrates qualities of outstanding leadership and excellence in education. The award was established in 1995 in honor of Gary K. Hart, who was a retired California State Senator and former California Secretary of Education. Hart supported the legislation that allowed for and launched California charter schools.

Perez feels flattered by the recognition she is receiving for her work and attributes her success to a collaborative effort on the part of parents and their involvement, students, colleagues and administration. She is attending the event with family, who is coming from as far as Texas, and with 17 staff members who want to celebrate with their award winner. 

Perez says of her teaching career and the acknowledgement she is receiving from the association, “I’m very fortunate, that’s for sure.”