Classroom Rock Stars

Each school day Claudia Angelici and John Wood head to class to greet their students. While this may appear to be a ordinary act, what they achieve in the course of a day is extraordinary. Recently, Angelici and Wood were recognized for excellence in teaching. Both teach science, and both have a reputation for going far beyond the expected to create and execute lesson plans that challenge and reward students.

The teachers have been singled out by the California League of Middle Schools as part of the statewide Educator of the Year program. This distinction is presented each year to 11 outstanding teachers, who “exemplify educational excellence and have made significant efforts to implement elements of educational reform in middle schools.”

The selection process begins with nominations at the regional level. Up to 10 finalists from each region are honored locally, such as Angelici and Wood, and Fountain Valley School District honored these individuals at the FVSD Board meeting this week. The teachers are now in contention for statewide honors as the Educator of the Year, which will be announced at the CLMS annual conference.

Principal Chris Christensen nominated Angelici for this honor. He credits her for “transforming her science program; developing hands-on activities for her students and using educational technology to enhance her science lessons. Last year she wrote grants to expand her dissection unit and plans on incorporating Teaching Physics with Toys into her curriculum, which teaches students the principles of physics through the use of toys and manipulatives.”

Wood teaches Earth Science to sixth graders, a pod-casting class, and has previously taught a science fiction elective at Talbert Middle School. He also instructs physical education and he coaches track and field, and he has even found sponsors to donate dozens of shoes to Talbert’s athletes. His Cube Club is the favorite activity among students, and many club members have actually mastered the cube, solving a Rubik’s Cube challenge in a matter of seconds.

Erik Miller, assistant principal at Talbert, explained just how unique Wood can be. “Just under two years ago, Mr. Wood had a unique opportunity to leave the comforts of home for nearly seven weeks,” Miller said. “He used this as an incredible learning experience for his students. While he was living in a tent on the exterior of Mount Erebus in Antarctica conducting hundreds of experiments, he was also communicating with his students and bringing his experiences to their classroom thousands of miles away.”

Each of these outstanding educators understands that the role of teacher extends far beyond their academic subject matters. They have demonstrated sincere interest in their students as individuals, and they regularly volunteer for assignments outside their classroom duties. Angelici develops benchmark exams for the science department, she leads a popular crochet club and regularly supports Fountain Valley’s Educational Foundation. Wood can often be found out on the playground during lunch, cheering on his homeroom during lunchtime sports program, and he has been the teacher who agrees to be doused in silly string, compete in an ice cream eating contest, or allow himself to be taped to a wall, all in the name of supporting our students.