Finalists Named for 31st Annual San Diego County ‘Teacher of the Year’

Thirty-three local teachers recognized by their districts for outstanding teaching have been nominated as San Diego County Teachers of the Year.

Five will be named the 2021-22 San Diego County Teachers of the Year at a special reception on Sept. 10 as part of the 31st annual “Cox Presents: Salute to Teachers.” National television personality and San Diego Magazine food writer Troy Johnson, a native San Diegan who attended both Mt. Carmel and Poway High, will serve as host for the evening.

In partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education, Cox Communications will produce a one-hour television special to recognize local teachers, spotlight the teachers of the year, and share highlights from the reception. The show will air at 9 p.m. on Oct. 17 on YurView Network (Cox Channel 4 and 1004 in high definition).

Presented by San Diego County Credit Union, “Cox Presents: Salute to Teachers” recognizes the county’s 26,000 public school teachers and will feature musical and dance performances by local students leading up to the announcement of the five teachers of the year, who will represent the region while vying for California Teacher of the Year honors.

For 31 years, Cox Communications, in partnership with the county Office of Education, has produced and televised “Cox Presents: Salute to Teachers” to honor San Diego County’s public school teachers for their commitment to their students and the teaching profession. In addition to SDCCU, sponsors include Procopio, KPBS, iHeart Radio, The Mightier 1090, and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The 33 nominees for teachers of the year were selected by their respective school districts. The five county teachers of the year will be chosen based on student achievement, professional development and community involvement, teaching philosophy and personal style, knowledge of educational issues and trends, promotion and development of the teaching profession, accountability, and ability to serve as ambassadors of education.

Here the finalists for teachers of the year: