Baseball fans cheered as the Sacramento River Cats paid tribute to two years of Sacramento County Teachers of the Year yesterday.
Lynda Bettencourt (Elk Grove USD) and Belinda Foster (Twin Rivers USD), the two teachers selected as 2021 Sacramento County Teachers of the Year were recognized before the start of the Triple-A Minor League game at Sutter Health Park, along with Julie Fong (Elk Grove USD) and Gewon Richards (Twin Rivers USD), the two 2020 Sacramento County Teachers of the Year. The two groups of teachers were honored together because last year’s ceremony had to be canceled because of the pandemic.
The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) also partnered with the River Cats to recognize 27 district Teachers of the Year for 2020 and 2021. The teachers, whose accomplishments at the district level allowed them to compete for the county title, were all given two tickets to the game, food vouchers, two commemorative hats, and an official recognition.
“Teachers dedicate their lives to supporting and nurturing our children and deserve recognition,” said Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon. “We are grateful to the Sacramento River Cats and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union for leading the way in celebrating our area’s top teachers and helping more people better understand their essential role in our community.”
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union sponsored the teacher recognition. “We are proud to serve the educational community throughout the Sacramento region and are grateful for these deserving teachers who work tirelessly to contribute to the foundation of our community and students’ futures,” said SchoolsFirst FCU President and CEO Bill Cheney.
This is the fifteenth year the River Cats have recognized the area’s top teachers. Last month, the Teachers of the Year were also honored at a Sacramento Kings game.
SCOE coordinates the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program each year to recognize the achievements of local educators, raising awareness of the valuable role that teachers play in the lives of students and in the community.