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May 2007
Getting To Know
SDUSD 2007-08 Teachers of the Year
For the district’s three Teachers of the Year, teaching is a family affair. Rudy Jimenez Ortiz’s mother is a retired pre-school teacher, Courtney Browne’s mother is a former teacher and current school administrator, and Elizabeth Ward’s grandfather was a high school teacher and coach at an all-boys prep school. These three outstanding teachers shared the spotlight with more than 155 school site Teachers of the Year at the Board of Education’s Day of the Teacher celebration on May 8.

Rudy Jimenez Ortiz
Rudy Ortiz 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. In fact, he lives in the house where he grew up, across the street from his school. 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 is a strong advocate for the Early Childhood Education Programs. 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.”

Courtney Browne
Courtney Browne Courtney Browne, seventh grade science, art and computer teacher at Mann Middle School of Expedition, is the 2007-08 Teacher of the Year at the Middle Level. Courtney spent many years teaching in informal settings before having what she called her “Eureka” moment. She realized she wanted to have her own classroom and get to know students over the course of the entire school year. Today, she teaches students of varying ethnic backgrounds including Mexican, Sudanese, Somali and Cambodian. Regardless of the setting, her philosophy of teaching remains the same. All students possess unique talents and all students have the ability to learn. She abides by three rules: attitude is everything; enthusiasm is catching; and always makes others feel comfortable.

Elizabeth Ward
Elizabeth Ward Serra High School English teacher and coach Elizabeth Ward has been teaching for nine years, all at the same high school where she once walked the halls as a student. A graduate of Serra High School, she teaches ninth grade and Advanced Placement (AP) English and coaches girls’ lacrosse, field hockey and soccer. She credits her love of teaching to her grandfather who was a high school teacher/headmaster and athletics coach at an all-boys prep school in Connecticut. Her grandfather taught her the keys to inspiring young people to succeed: connect with students, be interested in their lives, and treat him or her as bright, capable, and worthy individuals. His lessons guide her own teaching today.

Runner-up honors went to Celia Ramirez from Cesar Chavez Elementary, Lisa Hawk from The Preuss School UCSD, and Sylvia James from San Diego High School of International Studies. All six teachers are in the running for San Diego County Teacher of the Year, which will be announced Saturday, October 7, 2007.

To read more about the Teachers of the Year, runners-up and to see a complete list of the school site Teachers of the Year, go to the Celebrating the Day of the Teacher webpage.