2016 TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Each year, the teachers in the three academic departments of Diamond Bar High School name a teacher of the year within their divisions. From those three, the entire staff votes which teacher will be Diamond Bar High School's Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced during the Staff Appreciation Luncheon put on by our Magnificent Seven parent's organization on Friday, April 22.
This year's nominees are:
Math, Science & the Arts Teacher of the Year: DENA LORDI
For her creativity and her constant desire to improve as an educator. Very few teachers teach their students holistically, with an emphasis that goes beyond the classroom. Dena is definitely one of them. Dena cares deeply about students and the teaching profession. Her work with establishing the IB program on campus and her thought out curriculum, Dena is an awesome teacher.
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Health and Humanities Teacher of the Year: EMILY CLARK
Emily has been a loyal Brahma, teaching here at DBHS since the 1995-1996 school year.
Every year Emily pushes herself to become a better teacher, and with that she adapts her instructional strategies to best meet the needs of all of her students. This includes her willingness to incorporate technology into her classroom on a daily basis. Her students consistently rave about how great of teacher she is.
Every year Emily takes a group of nearly completely new AP students and transforms them into students that are capable of handling any AP History class that comes along after hers. She works well with her colleagues, always lends a helping hand, and always volunteers for those awesome teacher performances in rallies.
Emily integrates 21st century technology and strategies to create engaging lessons for her students. Emily demands excellence from her kids and encourages them to meet those expectations. This sets a standard for her students that move on into other AP social science classes.
Emily offers her services to the school beyond the classroom. She is a BTSA support provider, she opens her door to students at lunch for help, she has been a class advisor on multiple occasions, she was a soccer coach at DBHS, and she has built a reputable AP Euro program that is a well-oiled machine.
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Global Foundations Teacher of the Year: SALLY JARVIS
Creates highly engaging lessons for her students to develop personal, social and collaborative skills.
- Leading expansion of the Workability program to build community outreach opportunities.
- Setting up and growing the Starbucks mock interviews, giving valuable college & career tools that students can apply in the real world.
- Works with colleagues in other departments to create opportunities for her special education students to work collaboratively with other parts of the campus.
- Collaborating with colleague from WHS to establish the new Advanced Career Education Development class for special education students, as part of the Transitional Partnership Program.
- Supports the athletics programs by serving as a head coach for Cross Country and Track & Field
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