Hemet Unified employees were recognized by Riverside County Office of Education on April 29, 2016. These three employees received RCOE’s Bilingual Educators Succeeding Together (BEST) Award.
The BEST Awards Recognition Program honors district and countywide employees for their support in the advancement of academic achievement for English Learners (EL). This program awards administrators, teachers, para-educators, support personnel, and parent/volunteers.
Tina Wells from Tahquitz High School was awarded the BEST Teacher of the Year Award. Tina said it was truly an honor and privilege to receive this award. Wells is developing new ways to support EL students at her site. She is using additional technology, integration of AVID strategies, and the creation of new English Learner Development Student Tutor courses to help her. Her goal is to use these strategies to raise EL student’s grade point average (GPA) and move them towards reclassification as English proficient.
Martha Opferman from West Valley High School was awarded the BEST Support Personnel of the Year Award. Opferman said she was honored to receive this award. She said, “I enjoy supporting our English Learners program in any way possible to set high expectations for our students and their families.”
Janice Jones from West Valley High School was awarded the BEST Administrator of the Year Award. Jones works to ensure EL students are provided with access to core curriculum through different approaches to instruction to support their language development. She said, “Perhaps the most rewarding part of working with English Learners is getting to know their families and becoming a partner with them in their student’s education.”
Congratulations to Tina Wells, Martha Opferman, and Janice Jones for your continued effort in helping your students succeed!
Congratulations to Tina Wells, Martha Opferman, and Janice Jones for your continued effort in helping your students succeed!