UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Lara Calvert-York
Desrie Campbell
Ann Crosbie
Lily Mei
Larry Sweeney
James Morris, Ed.D.
Superintendent
(510) 659-2542
Raul A. Parungao
Associate Superintendent
(510) 659-2572
Kim Wallace, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent,
Instruction
(510) 659-2583
Ra
ú l M. Zamora, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent,
Human Resources
(510) 659-2556
4210 Technology Drive
P.O. Box 5008
Fremont, California
94537-5008
(510) 657-2350 http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Brian Killgore
510-657-2350 x12594 bkillgore@fremont.k12.ca.us
(Fremont, CA., October 6 th , 2014) – Faced with the difficult task of choosing from 19 of the region’s top educators, the Alameda County Office of Education named
Robertson High School English Instructor Amy Perez as the County’s 2014 ‘Teacher of the Year’ at its 25th-annual celebration at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts October
2 nd .
Entering her 7 th -year at Robertson and 12 th -year overall with the Fremont Unified
School District (FUSD), Perez was quick to share the Award with her fellow colleagues.
“Our school deserves this,” she said. “Our students deserve to know they go to a school with great teachers. This Award isn’t just for me but for all of Robertson and the amazing transformation it has undergone. This is a celebration for the entire school.”
A continuation high school within FUSD, Robertson has battled a label as simply a school for at-risk students. Perez says Robertson’s bond among teachers and commitment to students, has allowed the school to change that perception and put her in the best position to succeed.
“In addition to our commitment to putting students first, our size allows greater opportunity to communicate and collaborate with one another, as well as room to take some risks and use an ‘Inch-Wide, Mile-Deep’ approach to teaching that lets us determine what material is most important and really dive into it.”
A native of Hayward, Perez earned an undergraduate degree in French from Cal-
Berkeley before earning her Teacher’s Credential in Colorado where she taught middle school before joining FUSD and is currently enrolled in a Master’s program at CSU-
East Bay. She was nominated as Robertson’s ‘Teacher of the Year’ last spring, then selected as FUSD’s top instructor among representatives from all the District’s schools.
“I was shocked to be selected from a group of such talented teachers at Robertson – it wasn’t on my radar,” Perez explained. “That feeling was only magnified when the
District chose me. I am very proud to represent FUSD.”
As Alameda County’s reigning Teacher of the Year, Perez hopes to continue assisting at-risk students, while learning with, and from, other great teachers.
“I am excited to share my methods and work as an advocate for at-risk or struggling students to bridge the learning/achievement gap. I came from a similar background to a lot of these kids and hope I can serve as an example of someone who worked from the bottom to the top. I want to show them they can succeed – just look at me!”
About FUSD:
The Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) is made up of 42 schools serving nearly 34,000 students in grades K-12. With 15 National Merit Scholars and eight California ‘Distinguished
Schools’ in 2014, FUSD’s mission is to provide equitable opportunities to Educate, Challenge and Inspire students of all ages, talents and ability levels, while striving to prepare each with the skills required to adapt and succeed in an ever-changing world. FUSD is located in the City of
Fremont, California, a thriving international community. Residents come from countries across the globe to call Fremont home. FUSD takes pride in its diversity, its community, and in its schools. Visit the District’s website at www.fremont.k12.ca.us
, Facebook , or Twitter pages for more information.
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