BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Superintendent of Schools has announced the recipients of the 2019-20 Teachers of the Year award.
3rd grade teacher Wajeha Chaudhry from Loudon Elementary School and 7th grade English teacher Nicole Negron from Sierra Middle School have been named the 2019-20 Kern County Teachers of the Year. An alternate, Joseph Andreotti, an 8th grade History/Social Science at Lakeside School, was also selected.
Teachers of Year recipients are eligible to apply to move on to the California State Teachers of the Year program later in the year. In the event one of the recipients cannot apply, the alternate will then be able to do so.
According to the KCSOS, Ms. Chaudhry has been using technology to read to her students at night before they go to bed. During the school year, Ms. Chaudhry invited 'celebrity readers' to help engage her students and promote daily reading either in the classroom or in videos on her YouTube channel.
Mrs. Negron has put her efforts with the students in her class to encourage children to reach out, according to KCSOS, and get the emotional support they need due to current or past traumas.
The two Teachers of the Year received a cash award of $500, while the alternate received $250. All 54 district honorees will receive desktop awards and certificates.
As part of the celebration, KCSOS said all Teacher of the Year district honorees were recognized this week through a series of videos posted on kern.org, on the department’s social media platforms as well as on TV.
