A high school teacher that started a surf club in the middle of the desert. An elementary teacher that uses shapes for the names of students to help expand their vocabulary. A middle school teacher who was the first in her family to attend college—while raising her nine-year-old sister after they lost their mother. An elementary teacher whose damaged vocal chords were rehabilitated by reading aloud to her classroom.
These four teachers were surprised by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White, with the news that they had been selected as 2021 Riverside County Teachers of the Year. Colleagues, district superintendents, and board members gathered together under the guise of another online video conference meeting that soon turned into pure excitement and tears of joy as the surprise was revealed.
Anne-Marie (Annie) Bravo
Grade 3 - Railway School of Math, Science, and Technology
Perris Elementary School District
Surprise announcement quote from Dr. Judy D. White:
“You breathe hope into your students, your colleagues, and your parents, and even to me, your county superintendent.”
Surprise announcement quote from Annie Bravo:
“Thank you so much, this was such a big surprise. I’m stunned and so excited. Thank you to the district for putting up with all my crazy ideas.”
Keisa Brown
7th/8th Grade Science/AVID - University Heights Middle School
Riverside Unified School District
Surprise announcement quote from Dr. Judy D. White:
“You were an angel by raising your younger sister, and you’ve been an angel to your students. Now, you’re an angel to our county as the 2021 Teacher of the Year.”
Surprise announcement quote from Keisa Brown:
“It has been a blessing to be able to change lives and advocate for students. Growing up in the time I did as a student, I needed someone to address my social/emotional needs, so now I let kids know we can get through this together because I was like them.”
Allison Cyr
3rd Grade - Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School
Desert Sands Unified School District
Surprise announcement quote from Dr. Judy D. White:
“You give hope to people and engage students so they can see your light. You seek out those in the greatest need to inspire them.”
Surprise announcement quote from Allison Cyr:
“I hope that I can continue to tell my students that they can make a difference and that one person can really change the world.”
Krysten Gonda
9th and 12th Grade English/Language Arts and AVID – Desert Mirage High School
Coachella Valley Unified School District
Surprise announcement quote from Dr. Judy D. White:
“You are broadening your students’ horizons and engaging them in things that they’ve never seen. You push them and let them know that they have choices in the world and can explore the world outside of what they are seeing right now.”
Surprise announcement quote from Krysten Gonda:
“To be able to represent my students in the east valley, it is hard for me to find words. It is all so very humbling and difficult for me to hear because I’m used to celebrating and raising up my students and remaining in the background so they have the opportunities to shine.”
With a combined teaching experience of 58 years, all four teachers of the year will represent Riverside County in the 2021 California Teacher of the Year competition where at least one Riverside County teacher has been selected as a California Teacher of the Year in six of the last seven years:
- 2020 – Brenda Chavez-Barreras, Good Hope Elementary School, Perris Elementary School District
- 2019 – Dr. Angel Mejico, El Cerrito Middle School, Corona-Norco USD
- 2018 – Dr. Brian McDaniel, Painted Hills Middle School, Palm Springs USD
- 2017 – Shaun Bunn, Ethan A. Chase Middle School, Romoland School District
- 2016 – Michelle Cherland, Carrillo Ranch Elementary School, Desert Sands USD
- 2014 – Jessica Pack, James Workman Middle School, Palm Springs USD
The Riverside County Teachers of the Year are selected from nearly 20,000 educators in the county. The rigorous application process requires candidates to spend time reflecting on, and carefully defining, their teaching philosophy. The county teachers of the year are selected on the basis of nominations by teachers, principals, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where an outside selection committee reviews the applications on each district candidate and selects semi-finalists. The selection committee then conducts interviews and on-site classroom visitations to select the final four candidates before the county superintendent announces the Riverside County Teachers of the Year.