Gilroy
– Wednesday started like any ordinary day for St. Mary School
teacher Stacy Huddleston: get up, drive to work, spend the day
doing what she loves.
But mid-morning, as her class of 36 eighth-graders concentrated
quietly at their desks, Huddleston’s classroom got a few surprise
visitors in the teacher’s honor.
Gilroy – Wednesday started like any ordinary day for St. Mary School teacher Stacy Huddleston: get up, drive to work, spend the day doing what she loves.
But mid-morning, as her class of 36 eighth-graders concentrated quietly at their desks, Huddleston’s classroom got a few surprise visitors in the teacher’s honor.
As Huddleston looked on, bewildered, the Gilroy Economic Development Corp. presented her with its sixth annual Educator of the Year award in recognition for her excellence in the classroom.
The corporation’s Board President Vic Vanni, Executive Director Bill Lindsteadt, past board president Susan Jacobson and Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro presented the teacher with a check for $1,000 and a bouquet of flowers.
“We are very proud to have individuals like your teacher in the community who are molding you for the future,” Pinheiro told the class.
The Educator of the Year award is a joint effort among the economic corporation, the city, the Gilroy Chamber and private partners.
Any individual who has been involved in the educational arena in Gilroy for at least one year is eligible, including teachers, principals and behind-the-scenes personnel.
To make the final selection, the economic corporation’s board of directors judges nominations on a point-scale system using three criteria: ability to motivate students, initiate and implement innovative programs and earn respect of peers and students.
The corporation received eight nominations this year and this is the first year an employee of a private school received the award.
The board selected Huddleston largely because of the support shown by students.
“More often than not, we don’t get a whole lot of student support,” Vanni said. “But it was stated strongly from the students’ perspective that what Mrs. Huddleston brings to the table is much appreciated.”
Huddleston will be honored by local leaders and members of Congress at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner Feb. 5.
The economic corporation, charged with attracting new business to Gilroy, established the award partly because academic excellence is part and parcel with seeing new development, Jacobson said.
Huddleston teaches religion and language arts for seventh- and eighth-grade students at St. Mary, as well as eighth grade homeroom.
She began her career in child development working at the preschool level. When she heard news from a friend of an first-grade opening at St. Mary, Huddleston thought it over and decided to meet with the school’s principal, Christa Hanson.
The position had been filled, but there was an opening to teach seventh grade. Huddleston decided to give it a shot, and 1998-99 was her first year teaching at St. Mary.
“When I met with Ms. Hanson … I just knew without a doubt that this was right for me,” said Huddleston, who lives in Gilroy with her husband and two children.
Eighth-grader Marissa Garcia, 13, said one of Huddleston’s best qualities is the way she makes material more personal and relevant to her students’ lives, Garcia said.
“When we were reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ she related it to things that are happening in our world today. That made it more fun to read, because we could understand it better,” she said.
Principal Hanson said Huddleston is the ideal match for seventh- and eighth- graders, because she’s able to shape students’ sense of responsibility before they enter high school.
A few years ago, Huddleston introduced her students to literature circles, where students are presented with a choice of books. In groups, they choose the book they want to read and divide book reporting responsibilities among group members. The idea caught momentum and is now a common classroom activity at St. Mary, Hanson said.
Receiving the award was a “wonderful honor and surprise,” Huddleston said.
So, how will she spend her award?
“Well, I definitely plan on treating my wonderful class to a party, and Christmas is coming,” she said. “And I would love to buy some more literature circle books for the classroom.”
Past recipients
1999: Pam Tognetti, Luigi Aprea Elem.; Phillip Robb, GHS; 2000: Valerie Kelly, Brownell; Steve Jackson, GHS; 2001: Elizabeth Henry, El Roble Elem.; 2002: Ron Kinoshita, GHS; Ronald Ayala, Brownell; 2003: Eugenie “Jenny” Belcher, South Valley Middle School
