State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Applauds Los Angeles Dodgers for Honoring Some Southern California Teachers of the Year
LOS ANGELES — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today praised the Los Angeles Dodgers for honoring the Teachers of the Year of six Southern California counties and school districts on June 1 at Dodger Stadium prior to the game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"Honoring these teachers truly shows the Dodgers' commitment to the community," O'Connell said. "Our students often look to professional athletes as role models. It's refreshing to see the Dodgers turn that around and pay tribute to our hard-working classroom teachers."
The teachers being honored at the game are:
- Sergio Fernandez, a fifth grade teacher at Fremont Elementary School, Delano Union School District, Kern County.
- Glen Orr, a special day class teacher at Tehachapi High School, Tehachapi Unified School District, Kern County.
- Melissa Coronado, a special education teacher at Carnelian Elementary School in Alta Loma, San Bernardino County.
- Kristine Guzman, a second grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary School, Ventura Unified School District, Ventura County.
- Barbara Genovese Fraracci, an English development teacher at La Puente High School, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Los Angeles County.
- Dawn Brookey, an eighth grade history teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank Unified School District, Los Angeles County.
- Rebecca McMurrin, a seventh grade English and yearbook teacher at Olive View Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County.
- Amber Carrow, a seventh grade history teacher at Chemaw Middle School, Riverside Unified School District, Riverside County.
- Kathy Marvin, an eighth grade science teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School, Irvine Unified School District, Orange County.
Amber Carrow and Kathy Marvin were also among five 2010 California Teachers of the Year named by O'Connell.
"These teachers inspire, encourage, and nurture a love of learning that will follow their students through school and through life," said O'Connell. "While we should honor teachers all year long, not just on this one special day, I applaud and thank the Dodgers for their recognition of this noble profession."
As part of the festivities, O'Connell will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium. Catching for O'Connell will be longtime friend Robert Lamm, keyboardist and founding member of the legendary band Chicago. "Robert and the band always have been strong advocates of music and the arts in schools and currently play an active role in the Save the Music Campaign in our schools," O'Connell said.
Any accredited media organizations wishing to cover the ceremony should e-mail Amy Summers of the Los Angeles Dodgers Public Relations Department at amys@ladodgers.com at least 24 hours in advance of the event.
