Gilroy Educator to Receive Teacher of the Year Award

Most people have had that one teacher in their lives who really made a difference and deserved to be recognized for going above and beyond the daily requirements.

That's exactly why the Santa Clara Office of Education is teaming up to host Teacher Recognition Day, an annual event celebrating the teachers who make positive changes in their students' lives every day.

Approximately 31 educators from nearly every grade level and discipline will be awarded with the honor, including Gilroy's own Charla Mittman, who teachers ninth-grade English at Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy.

It's no surprise that Mittman's a recipient, according to coworker Sonia Flores, who said Mittman works tirelessly every day to help her students in any way she can.

“She makes significant gains with students every single year. She really works hard to get her students up to where they need to be,” said Flores, who teachers 11th-grade English and a 12th-grade Advancement Via Individual Determination course at the academy.

“She's just hands-down an incredible teacher. I'm very proud to be her coworker, because I get to learn from her expertise.”

Flores had a short-book worth of compliments that described Mittman's work ethic and dedication to helping her students achieve success, emphasizing that Mittman's work extends far beyond the classroom. She said Mittman has students go to her for so many different issues, not just writing and English, and she helps them problem-solve for issues they encounter in their daily lives, too.

Mittman was selected from a pool of teachers spread throughout the 16 schools, with the decision being based on each teacher's dedication to students, classroom skills and commitment to lifelong learning, according to Larry Slonaker, spokesman for the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Tuesday will be the event's 42nd anniversary, and local educators and several community leaders will be in attendance. This year's event also includes a special tribute video to Pauline Lowe, who helped create the annual celebration with her husband in 1970.

The Teacher of the Day event will be presented by the Santa Clara County Office of Education and is said to be the oldest and largest event of its kind in California.

Superintendent Charles Weis and Jessica Aguirre, NBC Bay Area News anchor, will co-host the celebration, which will include a performance by the Miller Middle School Jazz Choir. Honorees will receive engraved awards and appear in video profiles.

The Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union and National Semiconductor Foundation are sponsoring the event, with additional support provided by the SCCOE, Sixth District PTA and Santa Clara County School Boards Association.

The event will take place Tuesday at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell. All the teachers who will be honored are listed here.