Capistrano Unified recently surprised the districtwide 2020-2021 Teachers of the Year on their campuses.
Each year, just one teacher at each of CUSD’s 63 school sites to become a school Teacher of the Year. From those 63, three teachers are chosen to be honored with the district Teacher of the Year designation at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
The three top Teachers of the Year go on as nominees for the county wide Teacher of the Year awards, chosen by the Orange County Department of Education. Those three winning teachers will go on to compete at the state level.
Photos and video from the CUSD 2021 Teachers of the Year surprise visits are linked below:
Elementary Teacher of the Year: Ann Berger, Esencia K8 School
Middle School Teacher of the Year: Margaret Dubel, Vista del Mar Middle School
High School Teacher of the Year: Marguerite Westling, San Clemente High School
The Capistrano Unified teachers are chosen by a panel that includes the Capistrano Unified Education Association, former Teachers of the Year, administrators from all levels, and Capistrano Unified School District staff members. The school Teachers of the Year must fill out an application, respond to four essay questions, and provide their resume and two letters of recommendation. The questions ask teachers to describe their community service activities, personal teaching philosophy, describe the major issues in public education and provide a possible resolution, and describe their greatest accomplishment in education.
The district would like to congratulate all the amazing teachers who received the Teacher of the Year award at their school sites!
| School | Teacher of the Year |
| Harold Ambuehl Elementary School | Ashlee Stegen |
| Arroyo Vista Elementary School | Rosie McMackin |
| Bathgate Elementary School | Bathgate Educators |
| Truman Benedict Elementary School | Ami Lawrence |
| Marian Bergeson Elementary School | Cynthia Chang |
| Canyon Vista Elementary School | Julie Robertson |
| Castille Elementary School | Amy Brown |
| Chaparral Elementary School | Luciana Laszewski |
| Concordia Elementary School | Jamie Hobson |
| R.H. Dana Elementary School | Shirley Poster |
| R.H. Dana ENF | Susan Butler |
| Del Obispo Elementary School | Natasha Stumpf |
| Don Juan Avila Elementary School | Leigh Devlin |
| Esencia Preschool-8 School | Ann Berger |
| Hankey K8 Academy | Jolene A. Smith |
| Hidden Hills Elementary School | Morgan Miyazono |
| Kinoshita Elementary School | Rosalee Rodda |
| Ladera Ranch Elementary School | Carrie Agyekum |
| Laguna Niguel Elementary School | Deanna Roulinavage |
| Las Flores Elementary School | Heather Trudeau |
| Las Palmas Elementary School | Barbara Jamarillo |
| Clarence Lobo Elementary School | Julie Kulek |
| John S. Malcom Elementary School | Todd Hoffman |
| Marblehead Elementary School | Kelly Heard |
| Moulton Elementary School | Sandra Okugawa |
| Elementary Music | Samantha Gossage |
| Oak Grove Elementary School | Tricia Johnson |
| Oso Grande Elementary School | Teri Carney |
| Palisades Elementary School | Kim Van Dixhorn |
| Philip Reilly Elementary School | Jennifer A. Peterson |
| San Juan Elementary School | Josie Beagle |
| Tijeras Creek Elementary School | Jennifer Lester |
| Viejo Elementary School | Liliana Corona |
| Vista Del Mar Elementary School | Heatherann Kaczmarczyk |
| Wagon Wheel Elementary School | Jenifer Coulston |
| George White Elementary School | Charles Massaro |
| Wood Canyon Elementary School | Karli Vislay |
| Aliso Viejo Middle School | Sara Karimi-Hosseini |
| Arroyo Vista Middle School | Donna Haffner |
| Bernice Ayer Middle School | Stacy Gerken |
| Don Juan Avila Middle School | Katie Nicol |
| Esencia Preschool-8 School | Ryan Jesch |
| Hankey K8 Academy | Lauren Reid |
| Ladera Ranch Middle School | Elizabeth McGraw |
| Las Flores Middle School | Lynn Pagano |
| Marco Forster Middle School | Erik Nelson |
| Fred Newhart Middle School | Elizabeth Lewis |
| Niguel Hills Middle School | Gabriella Cullum |
| Shorecliffs Middle School | Nico Wirtz |
| Vista Del Mar Elementary School | Margaret Dubel |
| Aliso Niguel High School | Paul Biggs |
| Capistrano Valley High School | Cheryl A. Johnson |
| Dana Hills High School | Katrina Streza |
| San Clemente High School | Marguerite Westling |
| San Juan Hills High School | Jamie Gonzalez |
| Tesoro High School | William Busenkell |
| Serra & Fresh Start | Ryan Talafus |
| Cal Prep/Capo Virtual School | Melissa Cotton |
| Adult Transition Program | Lana Selecman |
*Bathgate Elementary did not recognize just one teacher this year, as they are all Teachers of the Year this year.