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Seeing your mother, husband and son walk into your classroom unannounced during the first period is enough to shock any teacher. Having them be followed by nearly a dozen District personnel carrying balloons is a genuine surprise. Ladera Ranch Middle School math teacher Tricia Humphreys lived through that exact moment on Feb. 3, as the group came into her class to announce that she had been selected as the 2025 CUSD Middle School Teacher of the Year.
“I was wondering why my family was walking into the middle of my class, but when I saw the whole mob of people following them, I knew something had to be up. It was really exciting,” Mrs. Humphreys said. “It was so fun to share this moment with my first period because they are always up to celebrate and bring great energy.”
Mrs. Humphreys is in her eighth year of teaching math at LRMS, working in all levels of math during that time. She also leads the National Math Club chapter at the school, which finished second in Orange County last year and received a Silver Level recognition in 2023.
“I have learned from so many people in this District, so it is such an honor to be recognized with this award,” Humphreys said. “I am truly humbled and thankful.”
She uses her platform as a teacher to promote community service and volunteerism amongst her students. As the All Star program coordinator, she helped facilitate volunteer opportunities for students to earn the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. She also defines community within the scope of the school and classroom, encouraging her students to help each other with math concepts and theories. Peer-to-peer learning helps students overcome difficulties and become stronger practitioners.
Mrs. Humphreys personifies the values that she teaches students to embrace. She serves on the school’s intervention, PBIS and CAPE teams, volunteering her time and effort to help build a stronger school community. A theme she carried into this year was the willingness to try new things and not be afraid to fail. As a new mother teaching a new subject with a brand new textbook, this year presented new challenges. As someone who always advised students to try, Mrs. Humphreys found that allowing herself that same grace made her a more confident and capable teacher.
“Mistakes make learning happen. That is an adage that is true for students and teachers alike,” Humphreys said. “Being resilient allows us all to try new things, see how they turn out, be comfortable with the outcome and grow from the experience.”
