Castaic Union School District officials celebrated the work of their Teacher of the Year nominee Kim Baljet, who was recognized as a countywide nominee for top educator, officials said Friday.

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“The Los Angeles County Office of Education announced Friday the 16 County Teachers of the Year, who represent the best among the 75,000 K-12 educators of our county,” according to a statement from officials.

Baljet, who teaches third grade at Northlake Hills Elementary, was praised by Superintendent Jim Gibson for her seamless and relevant integration of technology into the classroom as part of the Common Core Standards.

“She’s a natural,” Gibson said. “She just loves it and she really understands the use of technology for the curriculum.”

In addition to excelling in the classroom, Baljet has also been leader among her peers as part of the district’s SMART team, which focuses on developing the best ways for teachers to incorporate new state-mandated technologies into lesson plans districtwide.

“She’s the kind of person you want to show off when you ask the question, ‘So how would you use that effectively?’” Gibson added.

She was also praised by her former students, according to county officials.

“A grateful parent says her high school daughter ‘still speaks of Mrs. Baljet and how her passion for teaching continues to influence her,’” according to a county news release.

Baljet considers teaching the noblest profession, the news release stated.

“‘Without it,’ she points out, ‘none of the other professions would exist.”

This is the third time the school district has had a teacher it nominated as district Teacher of the Year be recognized by the county.

Baljet is in her 10th year of teaching at Northlake Hills.

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