Literacy work links Tri-City teachers of year
- June 21, 2010
It's a commonly held belief that the ability to read and write well will aid in one's studies, regardless of what subject one is learning. That's why it should come as no surprise that all three educators who were named their district's Teacher of the Year in the Tri-City area have a background in literacy work.
The Teachers of the Year are Livia Thomas in Fremont, Michaelene McKelvey in New Haven Unified and Jessica Farrand in Newark. They now will be considered for the title of the county's teacher of the year.
When students are inexplicably failing in their classes at Milani Elementary School, their teachers send them to Jessica Farrand to figure out the problem.
A resource specialist, Farrand runs the Learning Center and works with more than 50 students, teaching them to read and write. She also helps to determine if they need other special education classes.
"It's important," she said of the learning center. "So many times students are failing and falling between the cracks."
Farrand said she was shocked when she heard she was chosen as the district's teacher of the year.
"I was happily surprised because resource specialists often get overlooked," she said. "I am honored, thankful and kind of shocked."
Farrand has been at Milani for four years and came to Newark from Hayward, where she held the same title for a year.
She earned her bachelor's degree from San Francisco State and obtained a dual teaching degree for general and special education. She also holds a master's in education psychology from Cal State East Bay.