California State University, Northridge was well represented July 20 with five alumni among the 22 teachers honored by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) at the annual Teacher of the Year Luncheon.
Roxana Brock '08 (Teaching Credential), '09 (Early Childhood Special Education); Dana Brooks '07 (Teaching Credential); Jonathan Rubio-Garcia '16 (M.A., Mathematics Education); Ximena Rodriguez '08 (Educational Administration), '16 (Credential); and Grace Maddox '05 (Teaching Credential), M.A. '11 (Education) were honored by LAUSD at the University of Southern California.
"Having five alumni from the Michael D. Eisner College of Education honored at the LAUSD Teachers of the Year luncheon illustrates the CSUN legacy of excellence," said Shari Tarver-Behring, interim dean of the Eisner College. "We pride ourselves in the outstanding work by these teachers and view this honor as a testament of their commitment to student success. This is also a prime example of how CSUN continues to have one of the best teacher-preparation programs in California."
This notoriety continues a trend where CSUN alumni have been honored annually by the second-largest school district in the country. Though they are all products of CSUN, the five honorees traveled very different paths to educating young minds and reaching this great honor. Here are their stories.
Roxana Brock
| Brock teaches special-needs children age 3 to 5 at Telfair Avenue Elementary School in Pacoima. She has been a special education teacher for 20 years. Receiving this recognition from the district placed her in fine company. “It’s an honor to be recognized, especially to be recognized for something that I love to do,” Brock said. “It’s [not only] validation for the things I do every day, but [also inspiration] to improve as a teacher.” |
Dana Brooks
| A social studies high school teacher at John H. Francis Polytechnic Senior High School (“Poly High”) in Sun Valley, Brooks practiced law for 20 years before switching careers to public school education. “I wasn’t sure how I would like teaching because I came from law, but I feel like I’ve made a difference,” Brooks said. “I have one of my former students studying law in the fall, and seeing that and how I was able to guide him was amazingly rewarding.” |
Jonathan Garcia
| The students inside Garcia’s math class at Arleta High School in Arleta aren’t the only ones learning each day. Part of Garcia’s philosophy — and one that’s led to him being named an LAUSD Teacher of the Year — is to treat teaching as a learning process. “As teachers, we continue to learn who our students are and try and adjust [our teaching style] to fit their needs,” Garcia said. “If the curriculum you did last year doesn’t fit the students that you have this year, then you have to change it. |
Grace Maddox
| When Grace Maddox was 15 years old, her high school art teacher, Mrs. Butcher, influenced her to teach. Years later, Maddox followed her advice — she went to the Art Center of College of Design for art and California State University Northridge to obtain her credentials. At the Art Center College of Design, Maddox earned her undergrad in illustration. She developed strong skills in figure drawing, painting and perspective. In addition, she learned how illustrations have the ability to define social, political and cultural ideas, making them an ideal solution for creative and communications projects. At CSUN, Maddox received her teaching credential and received her master’s in educational leadership. |
Ximena Rodriguez
| Throughout her elementary and middle school years, Rodriguez and her family hardly had the opportunity to set down roots. Originally from Chicago, Rodriguez constantly moved from place to place before ultimately calling the San Fernando Valley — and CSUN — home. “I chose to come to CSUN because it had a wonderful reputation, and I received a warm welcome when I first stepped onto campus to explore my opportunities,” she said. To Rodriguez, CSUN provided not just a valuable education, but a cornerstone in her life. |
View the full story here, courtousy of the CSUN Today. (Written by Paul Amico, Natalie L. Camacho, Bridget Fornaro and Jan Palma.)