Proud parents, students and administrators stepped out in their most exquisite attire to celebrate local teachers at the October 3 Alameda County Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony. The event, held this year at the Castro Valley Center of the Arts, recognized 19 district-level educators from across the county, including two from the Tri-City Area: Fremont Unified School District’s John Muragu and Newark Unified’s Michelle Leipelt.
“We are here celebrating the many ways educators create just and joyful learning experiences,” said County Superintendent Alysse Castro.
Honorees were selected by 17 Alameda County districts and regional occupational programs that chose to participate. Guests arrived early in the evening for light snacks, digging into the assortment of crackers, cheeses and dips. When the doors opened to the ceremony hall, everyone made their way to their seats and the room erupted in cheers as the names of teachers appeared on the large screen.
“They are the healers, problem solvers, collaborators and changemakers who will make this a better world,” said Castro Valley Unified superintendent Parvin Ahmadi in a speech.
The celebration comes as the county has been grappling with a teacher shortage, a phenomenon that has become so severe that attorneys in the East Bay have claimed it is violating students’ civil rights. In Newark Unified the situation is particularly dire, and in 2022 former district superintendent Penelope DeLeon confirmed they had the highest vacancy rate in the county at around 7.5%.
In response, teachers across the region have been increasing their workloads, teaching classes with vacancies in addition to the classes they are credentialed for. This, administrators say, has led to burnout and high turnover rates. The teachers who’ve stayed are now being praised as heroes.
Alameda County holds 18 public school districts that serve more than 200,000 students and 12,000 teachers. Superintendent Ahmadi reflected on some of the challenges the districts have faced, and the impact teachers have had on the community. Highlighting the importance of empowering the next generation, she said she is proud to have a hand in shaping the future.
“Our moral responsibility as administrators is clear to me,” she said, “Back your teachers.”
