LAKEPORT, Calif. – The men and women who educate and inspire the county’s children were recognized at a special event held last weekend in Lakeport.
The celebration was the 18th annual Lake County Teacher of the Year and Excellence in Education Award Program, held Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport.
Also featured were performances by some of the young people who have benefited from these local teachers, including an original monologue about bullying by Upper Lake High School senior, Jamie Henry; Middletown High School senior Jacob Gill, who played “Blackbird” by the Beatles; and Lower Lake High School senior Jade Holling, who sang, “Do I Make You Proud.”
While the evening celebrated individual achievement, it also recognized the greater effort to educate that involves the gifts of many.
“No one here tonight will be recognized because they stood alone,” said master of ceremonies Doug Rhoades.
Professor Allen Franz of Marymount College, soon to open its third campus at the Lucerne Hotel, noted, “This is a night to celebrate what we have in common,” adding that teachers are some of the most important people in our society.
He recognized Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook for his efforts to expand educational opportunities from kindergarten through all four years of college.
Marymount – the first four-year college to have a campus in Lake County – is the missing piece, Franz said. “This is a real privilege for Marymount to have this opportunity.”
He said they can see a brighter day in the smiles of children and students of all ages. “Education is a vital mission in our society at all times,” Franz said.
Like Rhoades, Franz said that bus drivers, secretaries, janitors, maintenance people and other classified employees are just as important as teachers in achieving the mission of educating children.
Classified employees honored
The first honorees recognized during the evening celebration were classified employees of the year for each of the county’s school districts.
Kelseyville Unified Superintendent Dave McQueen said the district’s classified employee of the year, Deanna Goff, is “always there for the kids.”
Goff works as a kitchen aide at Kelseyville High School. McQueen said she has a willing heart and total dedication to her work on behalf of children.
Konocti Unified Superintendent Donna Becnel honored educational support Holly Ingalls by explaining, “Whatever you need, she is there to give you a hand.”
Ingalls, an educational support paraprofessional at Lower Lake High School, is the district’s loudest athletic fan. She’s versatile and responsible, is the first staffer there and usually works late, and loves the children, especially the difficult ones, Becnel said.
Dave Norris, Lakeport Unified’s transportation, operations and maintenance director, praised Clear Lake High School head custodian Dan Swaney for his expertise, flexibility, skill and work ethic.
Swaney keeps the high school spotless, always has a tool in hand to work on one project or another, and is one of the finest head custodians the district has had, Norris said.
Veronica McGee, a bilingual paraprofessional and translator at Minnie Cannon Elementary School, was honored for being a community leader in her own right, said Middletown Unified Superintendent Korby Olson.
McGee – known for her smiling demeanor – is both dedicated and professional, Olson said.
Shelly Mascari of the Lake County Office of Education presented Sarah Brucker, the 2012 Early Childhood Educator of the Year and the Leading the Field Award recipient.
Mascari said Brucker truly embodies a great childhood educator, and noted it’s a pleasure to work with her.
Unable to attend was Pat McBride, Upper Lake High’s director of maintenance and classified employee of the year.
McBride’s retirement in June left a hole in the staff that’s hard to fill, according to Upper Lake High Principal and Superintendent Pat Iaccino.
High praise for excellent teachers
Also unable to attend the celebration was Matthew Carpenter, Kelseyville Unified’s teacher of the year. Carpenter teaches English at Kelseyville High School.
April Leiferman of Konocti Unified School District brought to the stage Marlene Henry, the district’s teacher of the year.
“I have been waiting for this moment for decades,” said Leiferman, who was happy to honor Henry, who is known for pushing compliments to others.
Henry, she said, has a boundless capacity to love other peoples’ children, purchasing Christmas presents for children whose family circumstances might not have them receiving anything at the holidays.
She also has immense patience, and she spent a year working closely with a child in foster care who had violent propensities. Henry gave up her lunch hours to stay with the child, holding his hand everywhere they went around the school grounds.
For those who work with her, “She is the teacher of our career,” said Leiferman, and for the children who she teachers, she’s the teacher of their lifetime.
Jill Falconer, principal of Terrace Middle School, presented district teacher of the year Stacy Holland, who she called the most amazing teacher on her staff.
Holland has a quiet, humble demeanor, loves her students, arrives early in the morning and works weekends, Falconer said.
“Terrace School is lucky to have her,” Falconer said of Holland.
Upper Lake Middle School Principal Tony Loumena presented teacher Valerie Duncan, who has taught for 30 years.
He said she remains a lifelong learner, is passionate about history – she traveled to Egypt to learn more about that country’s history in order to better teach her students – and always is first in line to mentor new teachers.
“Valerie is rarely off her game,” Loumena said.
Iaccino presented teacher Teresa Dunne, who teaches math to at-risk students.
Dunne came to teaching only recently after having been a business professional, he said.
She successfully wrote a grant this year to expand the offerings of her senior math class, and he said students are amazed by what real math is.
Holbrook presented the inaugural Champion for Education Award to Wilda Shock, who worked on the Lucerne Hotel Education Task Force and also is involved with local literacy efforts.
‘It takes effort’
The final honoree of the evening was Lake County Teacher of the Year Richard Schaut, presented by Middletown High School Principal Bill Roderick.
Before Schaut and Roderick came up on stage, Gill played his rendition of “Blackbird” in honor of Schaut, his English teacher.
“He continues to inspire me every day in class,” the teen said.
Schaut, who grew up in the Midwest, started his teaching career 30 years ago in Compton, after graduating from UCLA, Roderick said.
Roderick said Schaut’s classroom usually has music playing, and class may start inside our outside on the school grounds, but what matters most is where it ends.
“He stretches the kids, makes them think,” Roderick said.
Ninety percent of the students who come back to visit the school talk about Schaut, according to Roderick.
Schaut thanked everyone. “It’s been a kick.”
Twenty years ago Schaut was injured and told he would never work again. But he beat that prediction.
One of the most important lessons he teaches is, “You can do it, but it takes effort,” Schaut said.
He said he was humbled after hearing all of the speeches.
For every teacher there, he said there are many more unrecognized who are doing important work.
“The classroom is this really, really special place,” where the past and present gets handed to the future, Schaut said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
