October 12, 2010 > Alameda County Teachers of the Year Alameda County Teachers of the Year Submitted By Office of Alameda County School Superintendent Photos By Adriel Yee The Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) hosted its annual Teacher of the Year Award ceremony on October 8, honoring eighteen teachers from school districts throughout Alameda County. Over 250 people participated in a joyous evening celebrating Alameda County's finest teachers. Livia Thomas, representing Fremont Unified School District and John Nolan, representing Alameda Unified School District, were selected as the county's Teachers of the Year and will move on to compete for the coveted state honor of California Teacher of the Year. "I hope winning inspires the children in my school to know that they can do anything they set their minds and hearts to. I want to be a role model for my colleagues and inspire them to 'never give up.' Together we can find new and creative ways to inspire our children to do their very best." -Livia Thomas, Fremont Unified School District "I am really amazed. Receiving the honor of Alameda County Teacher of the Year is a great opportunity to represent teachers in a positive way. I want to work to let the public know that there is a lot of great learning happening in their children's classrooms." -John Nolan, Alameda Unified School District The following is a list of the 2010 district teachers of the year (in order by district): Christopher Bates, Butler Academic Center, Alameda County Office of Education John D. Nolan, Island High School, Alameda Unified School District Anna Schooley, Redwood Alternative, Castro Valley Unified School District Michelle Stanchina, Fallon Middle School, Dublin Unified School District Lisa Pong, Tri-Valley ROP, Dublin Tracy Lewis, Anna Yates Elementary School, Emery Unified School District Livia Thomas, Grimmer Elementary School, Fremont Unified School District Janay Shepherd, Mission Valley ROP, Fremont Kevin Smith, Southgate Elementary School, Hayward Unified School District Betty Hovenden, Junction Avenue Middle School, Livermore Unified School District Michaelene McKelvey, Alvarado Middle School, New Haven Unified School District Jessica Farrand, Milani Elementary, Newark Unified School District Jessica O'Toole, Sequoia Elementary School, Oakland Unified School District Lawrence Evans, Oakland Technical High School, Oakland Unified School District Marla Silversmith, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton Unified School District Stacy Kaplan, John Muir Middle School, San Leandro Unified School District Mary Styner, Eden Area ROP, San Leandro Claire Nail, Hillside Elementary School, San Lorenzo Unified School District Every year ACOE, honors, recognizes and celebrates Alameda County teachers' for their excellence in classroom instruction. The honor and significance of the award will be throughout the 2010/2011 school year.