Lisa Alcalá was in the midst of teaching another lesson on June 1st when her classroom was invaded by administrators bearing balloons, cookies and wide smiles to tell her that she has been selected as the 2010 Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Teacher of the Year.
Alcalá, a resident of Roseville, teaches a 7th-12th grade self-contained classroom at Elinor Lincoln Hickey Jr./Sr. High School, a community school operated by the SCOE.
"Congratulations to your teacher for this great honor and for all of the enthusiasm and creativity that she brings into your classroom every day," Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon told the students during the presentation. "We are all very proud of her and you should be too!" Students applauded and surrounded their award-winning teacher for a class picture.
Joining Superintendent Gordon in making the announcement were Deputy Superintendent of Schools Marty Cavanaugh, Assistant Superintendent of Court, Community Schools and ROP Tim Taylor, Hickey Principal Andrea Lemos, and SCOE Teachers Association President Gary Barker.
During her five years as a SCOE teacher, Alcalá developed and implemented data-driven and student-focused curriculum where she has focused on intervention, reading, math, and California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) preparation, in addition to all core subjects for the multiple grades. She has also served for the past three years as the Teacher-in-Charge on the Hickey campus.
She has additionally participated in the following special programs: Juvenile Drug Court, LINKS, Poetry Out Loud, student talent show, WorkAbility program, and Opportunity Knocks. She has also served as a member of the visitation team for California Distinguished Schools.
Alcalá will be honored, along with teachers representing other Sacramento County school districts, at the annual Teachers of the Year Awards dinner, which will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2009.
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program is presented by SCOE in partnership with Maloof Sports and Entertainment, the Intel Corporation Folsom, and the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry.