OUSD picks best students, teachers
By Misty Volaski

Cameras flashed Tuesday evening at the Matilija Auditorium as 24 youths and teachers from around the valley were honored with Student and Teacher of the Year awards. These outstanding citizens were presented their awards by the Ojai Valley Masonic Lodge and the Ojai Unified School District.

The evening began with songs by the Topa Topa Playhouse Chorus, led by Sally Iwata.

The principal of each school took to the stage and described why each teacher and student had been chosen for their school's top honors.
Principal Marty Babayco, Ph.D., congratulated Caitlin Molina and Trevor Whiteley as the Meiners Oaks Students of the Year, and Theresa Dutter as the school's Teacher of the Year.

Of Trevor, Babayco said, "He is extremely nice. Kindness and steady are the words teachers and students use to describe Trevor." Among other activities, Trevor was said to play a "mean saxophone" and advised peers to "respect the teachers."

Caitlin, Babayco said, "is a perfectionist. She has 100 percent completion of all homework, outstanding attendance, excels in citizenship - and has a great attitude every day at school. She never teases and is always nice.'"

Students describe Dutter as the most energetic teacher they ever had, said Babayco of Meiners Oaks Teacher of the Year. "Theresa says that it is quite an honor to be recognized by her peers. However, she said, 'I still want to get better at what I do.'"

Kathy White, principal of Mira Monte Elementary, had the honor of announcing Alexa Bowen and Tyler Wiggins as Students of the Year, and Mrs. Carol Paquette as Teacher of the Year, from her school.
Paquette, White said, was a dedicated mother who was very involved in the school. She had been a substitute teacher before moving to Ojai, and before long, she was taking four classes in the summer in order to become a teacher at Mira Monte the next fall. Of Paquette, White said, "When Carol takes on a task, you can be assured that she will do a better job than you could have imagined."

Tyler, she said, is athletic, playing baseball and tackle football, and would love to design roller coasters when he grow up. Ms. Rasch, his sixth grade teacher, said, "Tyler has an intense desire to do well."
"Alexa has a gentle, quiet spirit. She has a good sense of fairness," said White, who added that Alexa is academically strong in all areas, in addition to having excellent citizenship and work habits.

Doug Becker, principal at both San Antonio and Summit elementary schools, had double duty when it came to announcing students and teachers. He started with Summit, Ojai's smallest public school, saying that Rose Givner and Martin Kerr were perfect choices for Students of the Year. "Their excellence in leadership and citizenship" make them outstanding students at Summit. "Rose and Martin are special in the way they interact with their peers," noted Becker. Of Laurie Alford, who was named Summit's Teacher of the Year, Becker said that all of the students like her, and that she excels in a small school environment. She was a teacher at several places, but settled at Summit where she is "well-loved by all."

Anna North and Cameron Kemp were the Students of the Year for San Antonio. Becker said both students were gifted in academics, and were both GATE students. "They're both involved in tons of activities," he said. Teacher of the Year Linda McMichael is "a veteran." She exemplifies everything a teacher she should be, added Becker, and also excells in a small-school environment.

Principal of Topa Topa Elementary Carol Holly said that Teacher of the Year David Groat was chosen because he is "a wonderful role model for his students. He is fair, honest consistent and dedicated." He also loves to make his students laugh, she added.

Students of the Year Travis Volaski and Libby Bradley are great all-around people, said Holly. Libby is "an exceptionally confident, calm and intelligent person who exhibits our character traits all the time."
Travis, she said, "is well-liked by everyone." He loves basketball and aspires to be a pro someday. "He is a great person," Holly added. "He's respectful, courteous and a joy to be around."

After all the elementary school principals had announced their students and teachers, Matilija Junior High principal Christine Golden took the podium. Perry Johnson, Matilija's female Student of the year, is active in the Ojai Youth Foundation as well as the Imagine Ojai group. "She earned a straight 4.0 GPA. She also hopes to go to India to help dispense the polio vaccine," said Golden. "She is on the road to success."

MJHS male Student of the Year Dustin Hibbard is "Joyful and fun-loving and alwayd willing to take a risk," said Golden. "He can laugh at himself and is easy-going.He intends to join the Air Force. Wherever you catch him you are sure to see a smile on his face."
David Settem, MJHS Teacher of the Year, said his favorite thing about teaching at Matilija is the kids. He coaches the cross-country team and is very dedicated to teaching, said Golden. His students, she added, said that "he tries to make everybody feel smart."

Chaparral principal Steve Olsen said his high school is a place of second chances. Students of the Year Susan Nelson and Noe Rodriguez took full advantage of those chances. Susan went to Chaparral with only freshman credits due to the fact that she had a child. She left the school, said Olsen, but later returned and worked hard to graduate this year with her GED. "Now," Olsen said, "She's planning on going to college and being a teacher."

Noe, he said, was another student that took the second chance Chaparral offered him and ran with it. "He started this year a full semester behind in credits. But he basically decided that he wanted to graduate this year, and he worked hard and he will graduate this year," said Olsen.

Mike Westbrook, Chaparral's Teacher of the Year, used to teach at Mira Monte before coming to Chaparral. "He has made it a personal quest to make sure each and every student here passes the new math exit exam," said Olsen. He tutors kids individually if they need it, Olsen added.

Nordhoff's Teacher and Students of the Year are particularly special this year, said principal Dan Musick. Male Student of the Year, Andrew Nelson, is the son of Teacher of the Year Francie Nelson. "But It wasn't a sympathy vote or anything," Musick said of the coincidence. "Both of them earned the honor."

Mrs. Nelson was chosen out of several dozen teachers at Nordhoff to be Teacher of the Year. "She brings a calming influence to everything she does, and is able to work through difficult situations with ease and fluidity."

Andrew "had distinguished himself as a student leader, taking an active role in student government," said Musick. "He is one of the top players in our league, leading the tennis team." Most teachers, added Musick, spoke of Andrew's wit and bright personality.

Meghan Lowe, female Student of the Year, is "obviously one of our top students, carrying a 4.25 GPA while taking four advanced placement classes." She also sings in the Gold and Blue Chorus. "She is unafraid of a good challenge. She understands the connection between school and life."

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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