41 Teachers Vie for County's Top Honor at ``Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers,'' Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. on Channel 4 San Diego; Commemorating 100 Years of Flight

Business Wire, Sept 9, 2003

News Editors/Feature Editors/Education Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2003

San Diego County salutes 41 of its top educators during the 13th annual "Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers," a magical evening filled with laughter and tears, emotion and inspiration, Broadway-style entertainment and special celebrity appearances. "Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers" is a television extravaganza that airs live from the San Diego Civic Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. exclusively on Channel 4 San Diego. Commemorating "100 Years of Flight," the evening culminates with the announcement of four San Diego County Teachers of the Year.

Channel 4 San Diego's Matt Vasgersian, the television voice of the Padres, will emcee this Academy Awards-style show. A television veteran who has appeared in movies and popular television shows, Vasgersian received an Emmy Award nomination as last year's emcee.

"Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers" will feature some of San Diego's brightest talents including piano virtuoso Michael Shih, the cast of "Peter Pan," the San Diego Children's Choir, and 11-year-old Mark Mejia, a Star Search finalist. Throughout the night, the spotlight will shine on the true stars of the show by showcasing the teachers. The public is invited to be a part of this live television event. Tickets are $14, $7 for students, and $12 for groups of 50 or more. For information, call 858-292-3753.

Named as their District Teacher of the Year, the 41 nominees were selected based on student achievement, professional development and community involvement, teaching philosophy and personal style, knowledge of educational issues and trends, promotion and development of the teaching profession, and accountability and ability to serve as ambassadors of education. The four educators named San Diego County Teacher of the Year will represent the county in the California Teacher of the Year awards program. This year marks the 30th annual Teacher of the Year recognition program, coordinated by the San Diego County Office of Education, and the 13th year the black-tie awards ceremony will be aired live by Cox Communications. Time Warner Cable and Adelphia Communications will also carry this special telecast.

"Cox Presents: A Salute To Teachers" is a way for the entire San Diego community to not only recognize the nominated teachers, but also the tireless efforts of the more than 20,000 public school teachers countywide. "Cox Presents: A Salute to Teachers" has received national recognition, and the telecast has earned eight Emmy Awards for Channel 4 San Diego.

The nominees for the 30th annual San Diego County Teacher of the Year are:

DISTRICT:                     TEACHER / RESIDENCE       SCHOOL

   Alpine                        Donna Kopotic/         Alpine
                                  El Cajon               Elementary
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   Bonsall                       Natalie Waddell/       Bonsall
                                  Bonsall                Elementary
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   Borrego Springs Unified       Anne Bogardt/          Borrego
                                  Borrego Springs        Springs High
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   Cajon Valley Union            Marilyn Sniffen/       Hillsdale
                                  Jamul                  Middle
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   Carlsbad Unified            Denny Cooper/          Carlsbad High
                                  Carlsbad
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   Chula Vista Elementary      Sherroll Stogsdill-    Educ.
                                Posey/                 Serv./Support
                                 El Cajon              Center - New
                                                         Teacher
                                                         Support
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   Del Mar Union               Cinda Peck/San Diego   Carmel Del Mar
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   Encinitas                   John Kruckeberg/         El Camino
                                Leucadia                  Creek
                                                         Elementary
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   Escondido Union            Heather Peterson/Ramona   Central
                              Martie Goodbody/           Elementary
                               Escondido                  Glen View
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                              James Collins/            Valley High
   Escondido Union High        Carlsbad
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                              Guillermo Acevedo/        Fallbrook
   Fallbrook Union Elem.       Vista                  Street
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   Fallbrook Union High       Constance Fellios/        Fallbrook
                               Fallbrook
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   Grossmont Union High       Robin Ballarin/          West Hills
                               San Diego
                              Paul Hedberg/           Granite Hills
                               El Cajon
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   Jamul-Dulzura              Judy Inskeep/             Oak Grove
                               Spring Valley             Middle
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   Lakeside Union             David Hartwig/            Lakeside
                                Santee                   Middle
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   La Mesa-Spring Valley      Beth Smith/              Sweetwater
                               La Mesa                Springs Elem.
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   Lemon Grove                Pamela Gall/           Vista La Mesa
                               El Cajon
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   Mt. Empire Unified         Gloria Tanner/            Descanso
                               Descanso                Elementary
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   National                   Linda Mann/             New Horizons
                               San Diego
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   Oceanside                  Debi Bray/               Oceanside
                               Oceanside                 High
                              William Wickett/         Reynolds
                               Encinitas              Elementary
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   Poway Unified              Barbara Hensley/        Mesa Verde
                               Ramona                  Middle
                              Laura D'Acquisto/      Los Penasquitos
                               Ramona                  Elementary
                              Kenneth Faverty/        Poway High
                               Chula Vista
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   Ramona Unified              Mona Snodgrass/        Ramona High
                                Ramona
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   San Diego County Office of   Twyla Knoblock/        Vista East
    Education                    San Clemente           Summit
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   San Diego Unified             Joan Boyle/           Jackson
                                  Chula Vista           Elementary
                              Sean Wells/San Diego     Marshall Middle
                              John King/San Diego      Scripps High
                              Jami Wright/La Mesa      Muirlands
                                                        Middle
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   San Dieguito Union          Roger Taylor/           San Dieguito
                                San Marcos              Academy
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   San Marcos Unified          Jami Phillips/         Woodland Park
                                Escondido               Middle
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   San Ysidro                  Zenaida Rosario/       La Mirada
                                San Ysidro             Elementary
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   Santee                      Cameron Williams/      Carlton Oaks
                                La Mesa
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   Solana Beach                Barbara Hochart/        Carmel Creek
                                San Diego
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   South Bay Union             Ivy Sayers/               Mendoza
                                Imperial Beach
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   Sweetwater Union High      Arlene Fink/San Diego     Palomar
                              Karen Cliffe/La Mesa   Bonita Vista
                              Rosalie Mason/         Chula Vista Adult
                               Chula Vista