In stark contrast to last school year’s Teachers of the Year recognition ceremony, the 2017 version was well publicized, organized and attended by the award recipients at the May 16 board of education meeting.
Jennifer Klem-Myers, a veteran third grade teacher at Barrett Elementary School, was named the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s 2017 Teacher of the Year while 13 other educators were also announced at their school sites’ top educators.
“I’m so honored and humbled for this recognition,” said Klem-Myers, a Live Oak High School alumna and Morgan Hill resident. “I definitely have been very lucky that I have had wonderful mentors to mentor me. I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in third grade. Coincidently, I teach third grade.”
Klem-Myers shared that back then as a youngster she would set up her parents’ office in their Morgan Hill home like a classroom and play teacher with her stuffed animals.
“I love this town. I am very proud of working for MHUSD,” added Klem-Myers, who has been at Barrett for 16 years and is also active with the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers. “I’m humbled and honored, and once again thank you for this recognition.”
This year’s top teacher honors went to: Jennifer Klem-Myers (Barrett); Kristina Peterson Carr (Britton); Eddie Yoon (Central); Jodie Wylie (Adult School); Kathy Corcoran (El Toro); Ellyn Perez (JAMM); Martha Stawarz (Live Oak); Kate Parsons (Los Paseos); Dan Scudero (Martin Murphy); Lisa Carr (Nordstrom); Johanna Miller (Paradise Valley); Terri Muscatell (PA Walsh); Jose Anaya (San Martin/Gwinn); and Heather Rottenborn (Sobrato).
In 2016, with teachers and the district at the negotiating table, a miscommunication on notification of the initial recognition ceremony at a board meeting led to a redo of the teachers of the year presentation at another date.
Before the 2017 recognition ceremony, the teachers agreed to a 9 percent pay raise.
