Christine Parr, an English language development teacher at Placerita Junior High School, is one of 16 winners announced today as the 2008-09 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year, representing the profession’s “best of the best” in the largest honors competition for educators in the state.

At a morning hotel ceremony, the “Sweet 16” were named by Los Angeles County Supt. of Schools Darline P. Robles as outstanding educators who have been serving with praiseworthy distinction. Judged as the county’s top public school teachers for this academic year, they will serve as standard-bearers for the teaching profession and their 80,000 classroom colleagues countywide.

The winning educators teach a range of grades and subjects at a diversity of school sites. The entire field of 66 teachers who participated in the L.A. County competition had all been recently selected as teacher(s) of the year by their respective districts.

The L.A. County Teachers of the Year Program, presented by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, is the largest regional competition in the state and is part of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honors contest for public school teachers. The number of winners — 16 — is determined by program rules based on the total number of teachers (80,000) in L.A. County.

“These 16 teachers are dedicated men and women who have the opportunity of making a positive difference in the lives of their students — and who every day make the most of that precious opportunity,” said Robles about the group, each of whom received a $1,000 cash prize courtesy of the California Credit Union, the program’s main sponsor.

Contestants submitted essays, lesson plans and other materials to judging panels comprised of peers, in addition to undergoing personal interviews. At all levels, TOY contests are designed to focus public attention on teaching excellence and to honor exemplary dedication, compelling classroom practices, positive accomplishments and professional commitment.

L.A. County’s winners automatically advance with other county titlists from around the state to the California Teachers of the Year competition this fall. The state is scheduled to announce its five co-winners in November, and one of those state co-winners will be chosen to represent California in the National Teacher of the Year contest next spring.

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