Allie Nixon, Karen Feng and Zach Halop were deservedly receiving lots of kudos after being named IUSD’s Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year this week. But they weren’t the only ones being celebrated.
IUSD, along with the Exchange Club of Irvine and the Irvine Teachers Association, also announced four “Teachers of Promise” on Wednesday. This honor annually goes to first- or second-year instructors who go above and beyond while demonstrating professional curiosity and an unbridled enthusiasm for teaching.
The 2013-14 Teachers of Promise, as shown above, are Brendan Geck, a history teacher at Northwood High School; Jill Morgan, a science teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School; Alyssa Morris, a sixth-grade teacher at Canyon View Elementary School; and Darin Nakakihara, a fifth-grade teacher from Stonegate Elementary School.
Geck was recognized in front of his colleagues during a staff meeting at Northwood, while the other three were surprised during schoolwide assemblies. All four will be formally honored May 2 at the 28th annual Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner.
Once again, congratulations to this year’s Teachers of the Year and Teachers of Promise.