LAKEPORT—This is a fantastic group of educators,” says Brock Falkenberg, Lake County Superintendent of Schools. “It speaks to the high quality of education we have here in Lake County.”
Each of the six Lake County school districts selected a District Teacher of the Year to represent them in the Lake County Teacher of the Year 2019-2020 competition.
These teachers have proven to be outstanding educators, colleagues, and friends to our community.
Kerry Smith is a Resource Teacher from Mountain Vista Middle School in the Kelseyville Unified School District. Her ability to connect positively with students, teachers, parents and administrators has earned her the respect of the Lake County teaching community and the title of Lake County Teacher of the Year.
Smith works with students who struggle with subjects such as math. She has had a dramatic and lasting impact on those students. In fact, many students in Smith’s program have shown tremendous academic gains under her guidance.
Robert Reil, Culinary Arts Teacher at Lower Lake High School, is the Konocti Unified School District Teacher of the Year. He is described by his colleagues as, “The teacher who goes the extra mile for his students.” His culinary classes are highly sought out by LLHS students.
Zane Jensen, US History Teacher from Terrace Middle School, is the Lakeport Unified School District Teacher of the Year. Jensen works tirelessly to devise lessons and experiences to heighten student engagement in the classroom. Jensen’s enthusiasm and passion for American History is contagious and easily spreads to his students who excel in the classroom thanks to his dynamic teaching style.
Jennifer Wangberg, Seventh Grade Teacher from Lucerne Elementary School, is the Lucerne Elementary School District Teacher of the year. Wangberg is known for her exemplary work with AVID, a program that focuses on student achievement through Advancement Via Individual Determination. On campus, Wangberg is also known as the “Kindness Teacher” because her caring nature allows her students to feel valued and respected.
Deb Lipari, Reading Intervention Teacher from Minnie Cannon Elementary School, is the Middletown Unified School District Teacher of the Year. Lipari’s focus on collaboration, flexibility, and kindness cultivates an environment where students are able to grow into confident and hardworking individuals. She makes sure that all of her students feel engaged, and celebrates their success while supporting them when they struggle.
Charlene Norwood, Second Grade Teacher from Upper Lake Elementary School, is the Upper Lake School District Teacher of the Year. Norwood is innovative and always willing to put in the hard work that is required when integrating the latest technology or unraveling new curriculum. She encourages students to be caring, inclusive, and collaborative so they can thrive in and out of the classroom.
The Lake County Teacher of the Year program honors the teaching profession by highlighting educational innovation in our local schools.
We encourage you to read more about our Teachers of the Year at lakecoe.org/TOY.
