Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, challenges families with children birth - 5th grade to read 10 million words on Footsteps2Brilliance this summer.
Free Bilingual Online Literacy Apps for Riverside County Families
As part of the Literacy by 5th Grade Initiative, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez is providing free access to a suite of bilingual learning programs for all students in Riverside county.
From pre-reading activities and read-to-you stories, to alphabet recognition songs and grammar rules games, these interactive, new tools from Footsteps2Brilliance are now available to our youngest learners 24/7.
Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Names Four Teachers of the Year in Virtual Surprise Announcements
Post Date:06/03/2020 2:48 PM
RIVERSIDE – 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
17 years in education
About Anne-Marie Bravo: Believes that classroom isn’t just hers, but belongs to her students, their parents, and the community. In the classroom, students call each other by math names to expose each other to additional vocabulary. Annie writes math and English/Language Arts songs that mimic popular songs—complete with hand and body motions. Raised more than $28,000 for field trips and special activities for students. Leads GATE Academy that includes math escape room, tower-building challenges, making slime, and working with clay. Recently accepted new position within district to lead new online blended instructional programs starting in the fall.
Quotable quote from application: "A teacher never stops growing and needs to constantly be making their fires glow brighter, along with the students, to keep up with the rapidly changing times."
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
20 years in education
About Keisa Brown: Thought she would be a probation officer or social worker but followed the “still, small voice” to become a teacher. Helped further the college-going mindset of the AVID program across the entire campus. Initiated programs to educate students on the effects of prescription drugs and underage drinking. Wants her students to have a voice—a desire to learn, speak up, and engage in life as a learner and citizen that transcends the walls of a classroom. Was first in family to go to college. Raised her nine-year-old sister when they lost their mother. Remembers the exact date and time she signed her first teaching contract.
Quotable quote from application: “Although teaching is hard work, it is truly heart work. Regardless of a student background, every child needs to be heard. Everybody is looking for the same thing. Everyone wants to know, “Am I okay...did you hear me...do I matter...did what I say mean anything to you.”
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
9 years in education
About Allison Cyr: Knew as a child that she wanted to be a teacher and remembers lining up stuffed animals and creating worksheets for them to complete. Struggled with reading growing up and committed to read books aloud to her classroom as a teacher—regardless of the age of the students. Was diagnosed with vocal chords paralysis and speech therapy assignment was to practice using her “real” voice which led to reading aloud to kids as a healing practice. Class writes get-well cards and send packages to people all over the U.S. like cancer patients, police officers, and veterans. Attended Desert Sands Unified School District schools and donated a kidney to an Indio High School teacher to save his life and now works with him as a colleague.
Quotable quote from application: “The beauty of being a teacher is that there is no such thing as an ideal day. As a class, our goal is to always be better than the day before.”
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
12 years in education
About Krysten Gonda: Current school year has included environmental challenges due to fires near Salton Sea, death of a student, and closures from COVID-19. Set up tents and hiking backpacks to serve as learning station to better understand characters and situations from a book. Creates a supportive environment of risk-taking in the classroom where students can fail so they can feel confident and informed in making choices the next time. Serves as gender support coordinator and advisor for LGBTQ+ club. Despite being 100 miles from a beach, launched East Valley Board Riders surf club that allows students to participate in civic and environmental causes outside of their small community.
Quotable quote from application: “I make a conscious choice in my classroom to put relationships above all. I may not be a therapist, but I’m qualified to care. I take the responsibility of preparing my students to become functioning members of society seriously.”
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
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.