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Alfonso Gonzalez, a Spanish teacher at Santa Ynez
Valley High School for 18 years, and Suzanne Dempsay Squires, a seventh
and eighth grade
teacher at Los Olivos School for seven years, were named 2003–04
Santa Barbara County Distinguished Educators by County Superintendent
of Schools William J. Cirone. The announcement was made at a press
conference June 5 at the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
Distinguished Educators comprise a category formed to acknowledge outstanding
teachers in the Teacher of the Year awards program. “Alfonso
Gonzalez and Suzanne Dempsay Squires exemplify what is best in our
profession,” said Superintendent Cirone. “We created the
Distinguished Educators award as a means of paying tribute to the successes
and the dedication the truly outstanding teachers display every day.”
The award was created as an outgrowth of the annual county Teacher
of the Year award. This year, the selection committee, which included
representatives of teachers, administrators, PTAs, and school boards,
expressed strong feelings that the application and credentials of Gonzalez
and Squires were clearly Teacher-of-the-Year caliber.
The committee members could only select one teacher to represent the
county for the State Teacher of the Year award; but members felt strongly
they should also acknowledge the excellence of these finalists.
“
This is our way of publicly announcing how very grateful and proud
we are of their efforts and successes,” said Mr. Cirone.
Peggy Lubchenco, a teacher of seventh grade science at La Colina Junior
High in Santa Barbara, was named County Teacher of the Year on May
1. She will represent Santa Barbara County as a candidate for state
Teacher of the Year.
Suzanne Dempsay Squires, a seventh and eighth grade teacher of science,
agriculture, physical education, computers, and art at Los Olivos School
received her B.S. from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She began a zookeeping
career as an avian technician, raising penguins and eagles at the San
Francisco Zoo, and then worked for Marineworld Africa USA and Happy
Hollow Zoo in San Jose. She subsequently worked as an agricultural
biologist for the County of Santa Barbara.
After graduating from Chapman University she began teaching at Los
Olivos School in the summer of 1996, serving on the technology committee,
the negotiating team, and the BEST (discipline) team, as well as the
Distinguished School Committee. She has also coached volleyball for
several years.
She has now added a biology credential, CLAD certificate, and CTAP
Proficiency Level 2 to her credentials.
Community activities have centered around the Los Olivos oak project
and helping out with various horse show functions, where she also competes
with her horse.
Wrote Fiona Goodchild of UCSB: “Sue has organized an annual science
fair…in which all students take part in challenges that are designed
to encourage their curiosity and ability to problem solve. …She
has been a leader in terms of using new technology to support teaching
science. …Sue has been a catalyst for improving science education
in the Santa Ynez Valley, through her outstanding leadership, modeling
of innovative science teaching, and her collegial spirit. …She
is highly regarded by her peers as someone who shares her knowledge
and gives more than full credit to the others who work on her team.”
Wrote student Katie Rosenberry: “She is everything a school could
look for in a teacher, and beyond. …Mrs. Squires designs and
teaches outstanding curriculum that combines student interests with
enjoyment, creativity, technical and tactical skills, and even provides
positive social interaction. …The combination of the comfortable
classroom and exceptional learning prove to be the perfect conditions
for getting students involved in science out of the classroom. …Mrs.
Squires is truly an asset to Los Olivos School; a respected, trusted,
and committed teacher whom no science student should go without experiencing.”
Wrote superintendent Ron Barba: “When you look up the following
words in the dictionary—dedicated, loyal, exemplary, professional,
fair, firm, consistent, coach, teacher, mother, creative, motivator,
animal lover, gardener—you find Sue Squire’s picture next
to each word. …Her evaluations are exemplary because she goes
the extra mile. ...What impresses me the most is that she has used
her educational background to meet the diverse needs of her students
in her classes. …Sue Squires is a complete team player and exemplifies
all the criteria that demonstrate teacher excellence.”
Alfonso Gonzalez, a Spanish teacher at Santa Ynez Valley High School,
was born in Mexico and educated there and in the U.S. He graduated
from Humboldt State University with a B.S. in business administration,
with a concentration in accounting and a minor in ethnic studies. He
obtained his teaching credential in business from Humboldt as well.
He began teaching at Santa Ynez High School as a temporary business
teacher and three years later passed the National Teacher’s Examination
and became qualified to teach Spanish. He was also the advisor to Future
Business Leaders of America. He has taught virtually all levels of
Spanish at the high school: Spanish I, II, III, Honors Spanish III,
Advanced Placement Spanish Literature, Beginning Spanish for Spanish
Speakers, and Advance Spanish Speakers. He is a member of the California
Association of Counselors and is completing his master’s degree
in school counseling and a personnel services credential. He has served
as foreign language department head and has been involved with the
WASC accreditation committee.
He also served as a Fulbright Fellow in Chile.
Gonzalez has been very involved with La Purisima Catholic Church and
with the Organization of Latinos & Americans Club, planning at
least two educational field trips every year including one to a four-year
university and one to a community college. He started International
Week at the school 10 years ago.
Wrote vice principal Jerry Swanitz: “He genuinely cares about
his students and they sense how much he cares. He is always upbeat
and enthusiastic about this teaching. He has excellent subject matter
knowledge…and is also a very creative teacher. He employs a wide
variety of instructional strategies aimed at different learning modalities. …He
is respected and revered by students, colleagues, parents, and administration
as a teacher who not only facilities learning, but also instills a
love of learning.”
Wrote colleague and former Teacher of the Year Tory Babcock: “Alfonso
has a knack of designing creative and fun lessons that are at the same
time academically rigorous. No one works longer hours or more diligently
to reach his students than Alfonso. Alfonso reaches past ethnic boundaries
to reach all our kids, to the point where my surfer son even joined
Alfonso’s club (OLA). He is an articulate and passionate spokesperson
for teachers and for equal education.”
Wrote former student and bilingual teacher Maria Huerta: “Mr.
Gonzalez always taught with great passion, which energized anybody
in his class. Mr. Gonzalez made his lessons interesting and thought
provoking. …Today, I try to infuse my curriculum with Mr. Gonzalez’s
same passion, cultural pride, and high expectations, hoping that I
can make the difference in my third graders’ lives that he made
in mine.”
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