Home » Santa Clarita News » Education » William S. Hart Union School District » Saugus High School Teacher Named California Teacher Of The Year
Saugus High Teach Jim Klipfel

Saugus High School Teacher Named California Teacher Of The Year

Saugus High School teacher Jim Klipfel was named one of five California Teachers of the Year, and is set to represent California in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

This marks the first time that a teacher from the William S. Hart Union High School District has been named the California Teacher of the Year, according to district spokesman Dave Caldwell.

“I am honored, humbled, and grateful that my time serving, challenging, and supporting young people has been recognized in a way that brings much deserved attention to the educators, students, and families of Saugus and the William S. Hart Union High School District,” Mr. Klipfel said in an earlier statement. “My fellow educators are heroic and inspiring professionals, and they deserve the broad recognition that comes with this honor. Finally, I am especially grateful to my countless mentors, heroes, and supporters. They are the shoulders that I now stand upon.”

In a statement issued by the state superintendent’s office, Klipfel and the other four teachers selected were described as “ambassadors for the profession who go above and beyond to educate, inspire, and empower students, families, and communities.”

“In a year that might be the most challenging in all of our lives, these five inspiring teachers have made profound differences in the lives of their students and communities,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “I’m proud that these educators are receiving this prestigious honor for their continued effort to rise above the challenges and connect with students even during unimaginable circumstances.”

See Related: Saugus High Teacher Named ‘Teacher Of The Year’ By L.A. County

Klipfel was previously recognized by the Hart Governing Board in September as the District Teacher of the Year after being chosen by his peers at Saugus High School this past spring, marking the second such time in his career.

Less than a month later, Klipfel was named one of ten Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year. 

“I consider Jim Klipfel to be one of the finest teachers I’ve ever known, said Hart District Superintendent Mike Kuhlman in a statement Wednesday. “Jim is passionate, dedicated, and relentless in his concern for his students. Those fortunate enough to be enrolled in his history classes will likely work harder than ever before. In the process, they will discover that they are capable of much more than they ever thought possible.”

Klipfel now goes on to represent the state of California as part of the National Teacher of the Year competition, the results of which are scheduled to be announced in the spring of 2021.

“Jim is an outstanding teacher who helps his students think deeply about life’s lessons, their responsibility to rectify social injustice and their obligation to come to the help of people in need,” Kuhlman said. “We are so very proud of Jim and happy for the Saugus Community.”


Sponsored Articles


Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

KHTS AM 1220 & FM 98.1 - Santa Clarita Radio - Santa Clarita News

Saugus High School Teacher Named California Teacher Of The Year

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Michael Brown

Michael Brown has lived in Santa Clarita his whole life. Graduating from Saugus High School in 2016, he continued to stay local by attending The Master’s University, where he achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. Michael joined KHTS in January of 2018 as a news intern, and has since gone on to become the News Director for the KHTS Newsroom. Since joining KHTS, Michael has covered many breaking news stories (both on scene and on air), interviewed dozens of prominent state and federal political figures, and interacted with hundreds of residents from Santa Clarita. When he is not working, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, as well as reading any comic book he can get his hands on.