Therese Brady named 2002 County Teacher of Year

Therese Brady, a fourth grade teacher at Juan Pacifico Ontiveros Elementary School in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, who has taught at the school since 1994, was named 2002 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. Brady, one of a number of outstanding countywide nominees for the honor, was selected by a five-person committee including representatives of teachers, administrators, and PTAs.

County superintendent Bill Cirone expressed congratulations for Brady’s professionalism, enthusiasm, and successes in the classroom and in the community. Brady, who is currently working on certification for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the area of middle childhood generalist, holds a B.S. in social science from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and two teaching credentials from Cal Poly as well: a multiple subject with a bilingual certificate of competence in Spanish and a single subject, social science credential. She began her teaching career as a 7th and 8th grade teacher of English, math and science for English Learners at Fesler Junior High School and then served as an intercession teacher for grades K-6 in remedial and enrichment activities through interdisciplinary units for the district’s has taught second, third, and fourth graders at Ontiveros. She was also a CBET Teacher—Community Based English Tutoring—for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District and previously served as an independent study teacher in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.

Brady has served as a mentor teacher and has attained levels 1 and 2 in the California Technology Assistance Project.

Her many awards include being named Teacher of the Year in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District in 2000 and winning the Sea World/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Award in the area of environmental education outreach, sponsored by the National Geographic Society for innovative curriculum and its farreaching influence.

She won a Care and Share Philanthropy Grant, four disseminator grants through the Teachers Network, two Community as Classroom Grants, and the Outstanding Youth Educator Award from the Santa Maria Valley Jaycees. For her environmental education efforts, her school received an Earth Friendly Award from the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce and a Santa Barbara County Green Award. Her enthusiasm for her work and her students is contagious. She wrote in her application: “Educators have a tremendous responsibility. We must be mindful, human, tender, compassionate, tolerant, and strong. Everything we do and say affects our students, who look to us for example and guidance. I am proud that I share the same excitement as Anne Sullivan did for our wonderful profession, teaching.” Her attitude of inclusion is often cited as one of her greatest assets. She wrote: “I ..believe children learn through different modalities, so it is my responsibility to include multiple paths for student learning. ..I believe students need to see themselves as individuals in a larger community, one where they see themselves as stewards of society and the earth. I believe students take their education more seriously if they see relevancy between what they learn in the classroom and how it can be applied in the real world.”

And finally, she wrote: “I believe educating children is an art, a science and a mechanism by which we lift the human soul.”

Wrote assistant superintendent Dr. Joanne Cameron: “She holds high expectations for each and every one of her students and at the same time provides a learning environment that breeds innovation, nurturing, and success. Ms. Brady’s passion and enthusiasm for teaching are contagious and spill over to those around her…Ms. Brady’s work ethic and dedication to her profession is unequalled.”

Wrote 6th grade student Kimberly Abadajos: “I think she is the best out of all the teachers I know. She really inspires me to be the best I can be. I feel like I would be looking at her as a great, organized, wonderful teacher that admires her students. She is a good example to future teachers in her class.” Brady’s nomination will next be reviewed for consideration as California Teacher of the Year in the fall. The California winner will then proceed into consideration for 2002 National Teacher of the Year.

As Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Brady will be available to speak countywide, and can be reached at Ontiveros School or at the County Education Office, by calling Robin Sawaske at 964-4711, ext. 5281.