Northwood High School’s Mickey Dickson has been named one of six Orange County Teacher of the Year Finalists by the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE). Dickson received this honor on May 20 during a surprise Zoom meeting that included County Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares, OCDE officials, IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker, Northwood High Principal Dr. Leslie Roach, IUSD Board Member Lauren Brooks, Irvine Teachers Association President Teri Sorey, and members of his family.
During the surprise Zoom announcement, Superintendent Walker said to Dickson, “The difference you make in the classroom and on the field is immeasurable and profound. On behalf of the IUSD Board of Education and our District, thank you for your tireless work teaching and supporting our students, while continually striving to innovate and inspire.”
Dickson, who is a Science Teacher and Coach at Northwood High School, was also named IUSD’s High School Teacher of the Year in February. Dr. Leslie Roach said of Dickson’s accomplishments, “Mickey is deeply rooted in education and supporting our kids to ensure they are prepared for their post-secondary goals. This is an amazing accomplishment that is so incredibly well-deserved.”
Long before Next Generation Science Standards were adopted nationwide, Dickson was a leader in the development of the Integrated Science core that provides all students a rigorous yet supportive science experience. In recent years, Mickey has taken the lead on a new honors level Forensics Science class. He has taught for 18 years in IUSD and has 29 years of experience in education. As one administrator stated, "IUSD is so lucky to have an educator like Mickey working in our District. He cares about students and gives so much back to the community.”
All six of this year’s Orange County Teachers of the Year will get a special award from Dr. Mijares, and each will receive a tote bag with prizes from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the program’s premier sponsor.
In the fall, the finalists will be formally honored at a planned dinner gala at the Disneyland Hotel, where they will receive cash awards from the Orange County Teachers of the Year Award Foundation, established by the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation.
This year’s winners were selected from a field of more than 60 educators countywide, who were honored in their home districts. The process included both applications and interviews.