- West Contra Costa Unified School District
- WCCUSD Highlights
- WCCUSD Highlights (Archive)
District, ED Fund Surprise Five Teaching Excellence Winners
Five West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) teachers have been named the 2018 Teaching Excellence Award winners by the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund, the organization announced during surprise visits to their classrooms recently.
The winners are: Erik Radkiewicz, music teacher at Pinole Valley High School and Stewart K-8 School; Joanne Chen, sixth grade teacher at Mira Vista K-8 School; Elizabeth Sanders, English teacher at De Anza High School; Rachel Ricker, second grade teacher at Verde Elementary School; and Jessie Welcomer, fifth grade literacy teacher at Montalvin Manor Elementary School.
Two of them—Radkiewicz and Chen—are the District's Teachers of the Year and will compete in the county competition. Last year, De Anza High School Spanish teacher Paula Raj earned recognition as one of two Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year.
"The educators we honored today are prime examples of the dedicated and talented people we entrust to ensure that all students are prepared for college or career when they leave our schools," Superintendent Matthew Duffy said. "While these five have been selected as our best teachers for this year, I know they have many colleagues who are as committed and are not the exception, but rather the rule when it comes to their abilities as educators."
Each teacher was surprised at school surrounded by friends, relatives, students and colleagues.
"We are honored to have such distinguished teachers in our District," Ed Fund Executive Director Joel Mackey said. "They inspire our students to learn and believe in the value of education. We are grateful for their enthusiastic commitment to engaging our students in the love of learning."
The Ed Fund will be celebrating and honoring the 2018 Teaching Excellence winners at its 29th Annual Soaring to Excellence Celebration on Friday, May 11 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the De Anza High School Performing Arts Theater, 5000 Valley View Road, Richmond, CA.
The event is free and open to the public. Register at www.edfundwest.org/events.