Continuing a decades-old Santa Clarita Valley tradition, the SCV Education Foundation welcomed educators and aspiring teachers Friday evening to celebrate local education under one roof during the 42nd annual Teacher Tribute.
Representatives of all five local school districts were present to call up teachers named this year’s honorees for the “Academy of the Stars” annual tribute and be celebrated among peers and their families at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons.
The Teacher Tribute honored one teacher from all 55 public schools in the valley, who are selected by their peers and school administrators. The recognitions began with remarks by Sulphur Springs Union School District Superintendent Catherine Kawaguchi, followed by Newhall School District Superintendent Leticia Hernandez, Castaic Union School District Superintendent Bob Brauneisen, Saugus Union School District acting Superintendent Jennifer Stevenson, and William S. Hart Union High School District Superintendent Michael Vierra.
“I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the care, creativity and professionalism you bring to your classrooms,” Kawaguchi said. “I see the engaging lessons you thoughtfully design, the individualized support you provide, and the positive learning environments you cultivate, and the meaningful relationships you build with students and families.”
The other superintendents echoed similar remarks, congratulating teachers selected as this year’s honorees and crediting their work toward student success before they named all honorees as they walked across the stage to collect their awards.
“I want to say thank you to our Newhall School District Teacher Tribute honorees for being the unwavering beacons who light the path for generations to come. They are mentors, motivators and molders of character in a world that constantly shifts and demands adaptability,” Hernandez said. “It is the educator who provides the foundational strength, the curiosity, critical thinking and compassion necessary for every individual to thrive.”
The Teacher Tribute wasn’t just a night of recognizing teachers already putting in the work in the classroom, but it was also for the future generations of educators. The Backer Family/SCV Education Foundation Scholarship awarded seven local high school seniors pursuing careers in public education.
“We celebrate the future by investing in the educators of the future. The foundation has awarded more than 130 scholarships to seniors graduating from public high schools in Santa Clarita who are inspiring to go into the field of public education,” said Carolyn Hoffman, the Hart district’s chief administrative officer. She is also on the SCV Education Foundation board of directors.
A total of $11,500 was awarded among the seven recipients, she said, and added, “It’s so important to remember that these students are all of our students. They’ve passed through all of our school districts, and tonight, we collectively celebrate their success, knowing that we all had the honor of supporting them.”
SCV Education Foundation Board President Jim Backer announced the students one by one and shared the career fields they plan on pursuing, which ranged from speech pathologists to teaching mathematics.
Backer acknowledged Saugus District Superintendent Colleen Hawkins and wished her well wishes on her retirement and took a moment to remember former Sulphur Springs superintendent Robert “Bob” Albert Nolet, who died following a five-year battle with cancer. Nolet was the Sulphur Springs superintendent from 1983 to 2015.
Before the ceremony ended, SCV Education Foundation board member and emcee for the night Taylor Kellstrom took the podium one last time to thank local teachers for their work and being an integral part of shaping the SCV’s education community.
“Our teachers are amazing, our schools are amazing, our districts are amazing, and our students are amazing,” Kellstrom said. “That’s because of the individuals in this room.”
To view video visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8DEAsgkxJw
