Prospect High School Teacher of the Year: Sameen Shoenhair

On May 7, the National Education Association will celebrate the 33rd annual National Teacher Day and throughout Campbell, districts are prepping to honor those educators that have made an impact on their students, their peers and their communities.

Campbell Union School District is honoring its Teachers of the Year at its board meeting May 9.

Moreland School District is honoring its Teachers of the Year at its board meeting May 14.

In Campbell Union High School District's Prospect High School, teachers nominate and elect an outstanding teacher every year, based on a number of criteria, including their positive impact on students, says Prospect High School Principal Joell Hanson.

This year's honoree is Sameen Shoenhair.

"It is inspiring to work with Sameen each day," says one of Sameens colleagues. "In the morning, she can be found in the copy room at 6:30 every day, always with a smile on her face and a friendly greeting for her colleagues.

"She exudes calm, happiness, and professionalism every day in spite of the daily stresses we all face as teachers," her colleague continues. "In her classroom, Sameen is always incorporating new knowledge and new technology a never-ending effort to reach her kids and improve. Sameen is an outstanding representative of our school at district conferences and events, and she's a leader on campus. It is a privilege to be her colleague."

Hanson has worked with Shoenhair for the last eight years.

"She has been a true team member of the math department, participating in discussions around not only our Algebra 1 concerns, but also building our higher level math courses," Hanson says. "Sameen is a true professional, and often times brings thoughtful, reflective insight into some very tough issues including student achievement in math.

"Additionally, Sameen attends many professional development opportunities in the summer including AP Summer Institute for AP Calculus, and most recently, AVID Summer Institute, tackling an additional course this year for our Freshman AVID 1 class, furthering our college readiness goals for students," Hanson says. 

According to Hanson, Shoenhair will be carrying the Class of 2013's banner, according to Prospect's graduation tradition, into the field at the beginning of the ceremony.

"Sameen is definitely a pillar of strength, knowledge and wisdom not only in her department, but school wide," Hanson says.

Kars4kids, a national educational non-profit organization has these facts from a national survey on teachers and their impact on US adults:

• 80 percent of adults recognize that their work ethic, time spent as a community volunteer, and even career choice was a direct result of teachers who inspired them in the classroom.
• 78 percent of U.S. adults had an out-of-classroom experience with their teacher enhancing their learning.
• 61 percent believe that teacher taught them skills outside of the standard curriculum.
• Nearly three quarters of adults said they would want their children to have the same teachers they did.  

Do you have a teacher you'd like to see featured on Campbell Patch? Email mayra.marcotte@patch.com with:

• Name of teacher.
• Name of school.
• Why they should be featured.

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