Laguna Beach Educator Named Teacher of the Year

Submitted by the Laguna Beach Unified School District

Top of the World Elementary School teacher Triana Ramazan has been named 2013-14 LBUSD Teacher of the Year. 

 “We are fortunate to have a talented teacher like Triana in our District,” said Superintendent Sherine Smith remarks. ”She possesses a wide repertoire of skills and is especially good at helping our students achieve gains in literacy.”

Added Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Deni Christensen agrees: “Triana Ramazan is truly an outstanding educator. Over the past six years, she has worked closely with her principal to expand Top of the World Elementary School’s RtI program into the cohesive and effective program it is today. Through her leadership, RtI truly became a teacher-led initiative as Triana worked with teachers and other stakeholders to meet the needs of all students by analyzing data and then matching instruction and interventions to meet individual students’ needs. Colleagues place great trust in Ms. Ramazan; as a result of her influence, the structure of instruction and intervention changed to more effectively assist all students.”

Top of the World Principal Ron La Motte praised Ramazan’s role in the community.
“Triana is a teacher leader who sees herself as an important and vital part of something bigger than herself,” he said. “She doesn’t just see herself as a teacher of her own class, she sees herself as embedded in the fabric of our entire school, district, county, and state. She believes every student is her student. A teacher leader opens their door to as many people as possible to come and learn. Ms. Ramazan has earned the reputation of being a local expert in implementation of RtI systems and her leadership has promoted successful Multiple Systems of Support across all grade levels and schools in Laguna Beach Unified School District.”

Ms. Ramazan has been the Reading Interventionist Specialist at TOW for six years.

She expressed her admiration and respect for the teachers and staff and their collaborative approach to education. Ms. Ramazan earned her Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in Psychology and a minor in Education from the University of California at Irvine and her M.A. with an area of specialization in Reading at National University.

In a family that placed a high value on education, her mother, a kindergarten teacher, was Ms. Ramazan’s earliest role model. A life-long learner, she enjoys reading both personally and professionally.

The Orange County Department of Education Teachers of the Year Program recognizes outstanding Teachers in Orange County. Finalists will be selected to represent the county at the Teachers of the Year state level. An awards dinner and ceremony will be held in October for all of the Orange County Teachers of the Year.