Martinez USD Teacher Of The Year Receives Special Visit

MARTINEZ, CA — Alhambra High School teacher Andrea Salas received a special classroom visitor Tuesday. Salas, a 23-year instructor, was recently named Martinez School District’s Teacher of the Year, and Contra Costa County Office of Education Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata wanted to be sure and congratulate her.

Salas along with 21 other 2018-2019 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year will be honored Sept. 27 at the annual TOY Dinner Gala at the Concord Hilton.

Throughout the school year, 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," said Jonathan Lance, CCCOE spokesman. "When individually introducing the TOYs at the Dinner Gala, a short video presentation (recorded at each TOY classroom visit) will feature a quote from students about their revered teacher."

About Andrea Salas

Salas has been teaching at Alhambra for the past 19 years as a computer science, mathematics and statistics teacher. Prior to her current position, she taught mathematics at Castlemont High School and Claremont Middle School, both in Oakland.

"Andrea has served our diverse population, working to ensure that each student has access to curriculum and rich instruction," said Brian Wheeler, Alhambra High’s automotive technology instructor and 2014-2015 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year. "She is passionate about supporting our students, as she seeks to honor each student’s unique life experience and culture. Most noteworthy, is her recent introduction of a new computer science pathway at Alhambra. The vision, dedication, and excellence she has shown in the implementation of these courses has been inspirational and nothing short of miraculous."

Salas consistently demonstrates excellence in work and is highly regarded by her fellow staff members for the quality of instructions she provides her students, Wheeler continued.

"She models and embraces research-based instructional strategies and eagerly seeks new strategies to support her students," Wheeler said. "She willingly learns from and shares with others."

Note from CCCOE regarding eligible participants:

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.

CCCOE and 17 of the 18 Contra Costa County school districts are represented in this year’s 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.

Each year, one instructor from Contra Costa Community College District is submitted to the TOY program for his/her outstanding body of work with their designated college. The colleges rotate each year between Diablo Valley, Los Medanos and Contra Costa. (These instructors do not compete in the State Teacher of the Year competition.) This year is Los Medanos College’s turn.

Due to the larger number of students and teachers in their districts, West Contra Costa USD, Mt. Diablo USD, and San Ramon Valley USD are allowed to submit two TOY candidates.

The Contra Costa County’s Teacher of the Year program can be followed on Twitter and Instagram: #cocotoy

Photo: (l-r) Alhambra High School Principal Tom Doppe, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata, Alahambra teacher Andrea Salas and Martinez Unified School District Superintendent C. J. Cammack. (Photo credit: Terry Koehne, CCCOE)