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Region 1
Eva Velasquez
Counselor
Windsor High School
Windsor, California
Windsor Unified School District

Eva Velasquez is a dedicated educator who is valued and trusted by students, parents and colleagues for her caring attitude and sound judgment. During her 14 years as a school counselor, Eva has worked actively with other Student Support Services faculty to address students’ most challenging issues. She credits experiences in the Migrant Education, Upward Bound and Talent Search programs both as a student and educator for her belief that all students can succeed. Students who otherwise would not consider college are inspired to do so because of her mentoring. From the AVID and MESA pre-college programs to the “Padres de Familia” parent advocacy group, Eva builds bridges between the school and her town’s monolingual, Spanish-speaking population. One student describes her as “a shoulder I can lean on… I have been able to let my stress out with no sort of shame. She has been a support not only for me but for my parents.”

Region 4
Greg Lance
English Teacher/House Leader
Hillsdale High School
San Mateo, California
San Mateo Union High School District

A 25-year change leader, Greg Lance spearheaded his school’s adoption of the small learning communities (SLC) model and is a driving force in making learning relevant and engaging to students and staff. Years ago, unsatisfied with students’ low test scores, poor literacy and lack of academic motivation, Greg and some colleagues began reading about and discussing school reform. This activity led Greg to apply for and win large federal grants to start SLCs on campus. He has since served as the SLC advocate, modeling best practices, running meetings, and serving on the school leadership team and site council. He has been reinstated every year as the Cusco House Teacher Leader. Greg also initiated two service learning programs – the Kite Festival (which integrates the Kite Runner book, a history unit, and fundraising for Afghani children) and The Hillsdale Effect (funding business microloans to women in South America). He is also an SLC ambassador for Stanford University’s School Redesign Network.

Region 5
Reggie Roberts
Special Education Teacher
Aptos High School
Aptos, California
Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Reggie Roberts is an amazing human being and an exemplary educator. As the teacher for the seriously emotionally disabled students in his district, Reggie frames his classroom environment around teaching students to track their own successful, appropriate behaviors with the goal of preparing them academically, socially and emotionally for life after high school. Students come to him burdened by difficult backgrounds, including foster and group homes, and conditioned by repeated failures and abandonments in life and school. Reggie manages to shift their perspectives by listening to them, caring for them, challenging them, and giving them opportunities to experience success. Whether he is channeling students’ emotions through athletics in his role as the school wrestling coach, making a home visit, working long hours to prepare for his classes, or submitting detailed quarterly data reports to the administration, Reggie always has a warm, calm and capable approach that builds bridges with adults and engenders impressive results from his students.

Region 6
Paul Cornwell
Business Department Leader
Fred C. Beyer High School
Modesto, California
Modesto City Schools

A member of the Fred C. Beyer High School staff since 1972, Paul Cornwell has served as a teacher, coach, athletic director and department chairperson; he has touched the lives of thousands of students and teachers over the past four decades. As the head of the business department, Paul runs innovative programs that incorporate technology, hands-on career experience, guest speakers from area colleges and businesses, and field trips that add real-world impact. His classes are alive with the positive energy of relevant learning, and his support for all students both inside and outside the classroom is well known. Yet his most enduring legacy is the tradition of integrity and seamless organization he has instilled in the athletics department. During his 31 years coaching baseball, 17 years coaching football, and current role as the athletic director, Paul has supported teams up to the championship level, but more importantly, he has emphasized good life lessons over victory on the field.

Region 7
Chandler West
ROP Architecture and CAD Teacher
Washington Union High School
Fresno, California
Washington Union High School District

After 20 years as a construction contractor, Chandler West changed careers so he could use his industry knowledge to help low income, diverse students prepare for bright futures. More than a decade later, Chandler has built a thriving career-infused education program at his high school, teaching Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Architecture and Computer Assisted Drafting (CAD). “My kids see me as approachable…my desire for them to be successful translates to them,” he says. In class, students produce projects with a level of sophistication that impresses the veteran architects who volunteer to assess student work. On weekends, his students apply what they have learned by volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Chandler drives students to the job sites and oversees their work. The results include former students who have graduated with architectural degrees and are now working. As the Girl’s Varsity Soccer coach, Chandler has led his teams to five league titles and two San Joaquin Valley titles

Region 8
Terrence Fischer
Vocal Arts/Math Teacher
El Camino Real High School
Woodland Hills, California
Los Angeles Unified School District

Attached to Terrence Fischer’s classroom wall is a poster that states, Real Men Sing; hundreds of former students keep in touch with him because of the vital role he has played in their lives. These two facts show the power that music has brought to the students at El Camino Real High School through Terrence’s untiring efforts as a vocal arts teacher who is celebrated not just nationally, but globally. By teaching both math and music, Terrence understands how music motivates students to succeed academically. His girl’s chorus, choir and Camerata groups are made up of students with no previous formal training. In fact, the tenors and basses are usually recruited by Coach Fischer from the football and wrestling teams. The singing students have won numerous juried competitions and have performed in many venues. The Camerata vocal ensemble is particularly advanced and has appeared through invitation at Carnegie Hall and in Switzerland and Germany.

Region 9
Mary McDonald
Head Counselor
Mira Mesa High School
San Diego, California
San Diego Unified School District

As head counselor and a 40-year educator, Mary McDonald has played an instrumental role in helping Mira Mesa High School become the only Title I high school in her district to show significant student achievement gains. “Mary is a leader and an advocate,” her principal says. “She has a wealth of knowledge and a real understanding of what is best for students.” For staff, Mary builds the master schedule to maximize student learning and offers professional development programs for counselors and counseling interns in the district. For students, she runs after-school extended learning programs and “emotional intervention” programs for students enduring tough times. For families, she holds night-time events centered on continuing education, college applications, financial aid and scholarships. Mary tirelessly encourages students to enroll in Advanced Placement courses and attend college. Partly as a result of her efforts, the school enjoys an astounding 98% graduation rate and high rates of student acceptance at four-year universities.

Region 10
Susan Lucey
Career Development Director/SLC Coordinator
Arroyo Valley High School
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino City Unified School District

Susan Lucey is an extraordinary, 22-year educator who creates innovative programs to support student learning and is known for her enthusiasm and dedication. As the career development director, she helps students determine their career paths through surveys and career information – and helps them obtain jobs through employment leads, interviews and permits. She pioneered the school’s small learning communities model and serves as its coordinator, increasing student achievement by building strong, supportive relationships between staff, students and community. She also coordinates two California Partnership Academies: Teachers for Tomorrow, which prepares students for the teaching profession and was selected by the California Department of Education as a mentor academy, and CORE Academy, which stands for culinary, organic, recycle and environmental. Susan is also starting a third health academy. Her recent collaboration with California State University, San Bernardino and the county probation department has resulted in bringing the Foundational Achievement through Mentoring and Education program to ninth-grade students.

Region 11
Laurie Dugan
Math Department Chair
Segerstrom High School
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana Unified School District

An exemplary educator, Laurie Dugan is a dynamo both as a teacher and teacher leader. In the classroom, her passion and enthusiasm for math and student success motivate her students to achieve; 97% regularly pass the math portion of the CAHSEE on the first attempt. As department chair, she has implemented a professional learning communities model so that course-alike teams focus on curriculum mapping, common benchmark assessments, and backwards planning. At school assemblies, her seminar class is always the most spirited, often sporting Team Dugan t-shirts and homemade signs. As the co-chair of the WASC team, Laurie’s leadership and oversight resulted in her district’s first Six Clear accreditation term. She supports new teachers through the BTSA Induction Program and also serves as a master teacher for the University of California at Irvine’s credentialing program. She provides the same care to colleagues, leading the staff recognition committee’s Jaguar Jewel designations and organizing fun, social events to strengthen connections.