open with the free Acrobat® Reader®:
Teacher of the Year
Elementary Level
Rudy Ortiz, Euclid Elementary School
Pre-K Teacher
Euclid Elementary pre-K teacher Rudy Jimenez Ortiz is the
2007-08 Teacher of the Year at the Elementary Level. A former
Euclid student himself, Rudy has chosen to live in the community
where he teaches. The City Heights resident is a strong advocate
for the Early Childhood Education Programs. He is a proven
leader and learner who invests his time, energy and passion in
offering a quality program to the preschool children in his classroom
and their families.
He credits his success and love of learning to his mom, a retired Pre-K teacher, and his father, a retired Army Master Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran, who always told him they believed in him; something he can’t say about any of his former teachers. When asked why he became a teacher, his response is: “To be the teacher I never had.” As he looks back, he can’t pick out one teacher who told him he’d be successful. In fact, his eighth grade counselor told his parents right in front of him that he wasn’t college material. Rudy did everything in his power to prove that counselor wrong.
His personal philosophy is that children learn best in an atmosphere that builds self-esteem and confidence. His classroom is a safe and welcoming learning environment that stimulates students and is open to everyone: current teachers, future teachers, administrators, community leaders and parents. He sums up his philosophy as an early childhood educator in the words of Bob Talbert, “Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.”
He holds Family Friday every other week in his classroom. Family Friday started as a literacy activity where parents would come in and read to their child. It has evolved into a time for art, science and math, to learn about each other, share successes, learn strategies of how to take the teaching role home, learn about community resources and events, or simply enjoy the positive family atmosphere.
“Rudy has established himself as a vital and involved member of our staff. His interactions with
all grade levels invite spirited conversations that inevitably lead to sharing and exchanging ideas
for how to make instruction even better for all students,” says fellow teacher Hilda Rodriguez-
Babick. “Rudy is a generous and supportive colleague. He is the first to acknowledge the
success and achievements of others and shows genuine appreciation for the work of his fellow
educators.”
Rudy earned his B.A. in Liberal Studies/Latin American Studies, from CSU San Marcos, and will complete his M.A. in Teaching with an Early Children Education Specialization, from National University, in June 2007.
