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Mount Diablo Unified honors Teachers of the Year; two district finalists named for county and state competitions
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Summary
At the March 12 board meeting the district honored its Teachers of the Year finalists and announced two teachers who will represent Mount Diablo Unified in county and state competitions: David Pintado and Elizabeth Swanson. The board recognized multiple finalists and presented certificates and gifts.
The Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education used part of its March 12 meeting to recognize the district’s Teachers of the Year. The board presented awards to multiple finalists and named two teachers to represent the district in county and state-level Teacher of the Year competitions.
Superintendent Clark and board members described the finalists’ accomplishments before calling them forward for remarks and certificates. The district invited finalists from across grade levels and programs. Presentations highlighted classroom experience, leadership roles and community engagement. Among the finalists recognized were Tabitha Box (Ignacio Valley High School), Lisa Cotrone (Concord High School), Veronica Lino Garcia (Cambridge Elementary), Catherine Gates (Pleasant Hill Middle School), Teresa Gutierrez (Meadow Homes Elementary), Ernie Miglana (Sequoia Middle School) and others.
The district announced David Pintado (Mount Diablo High School) and Elizabeth Swanson (Silverwood Elementary School) as the two teachers who will represent Mount Diablo Unified in the county and state Teacher of the Year competitions. Pintado, who holds a medical degree and transitioned to career technical education, was recognized for work in health science and for founding a CPR and first-aid training program that involves students. "We are here to change the society," Pintado said in brief remarks, thanking colleagues and family.
Swanson, a longtime TK teacher at Silverwood with decades of experience, said she plans to continue to advocate for play-based, child-centered early learning and praised her school team. "I plan to continue to be a proponent of play because we know that when children have advocacy for themselves and their families, we can make changes," Swanson said.
Why it matters: Teacher of the Year recognition highlights individual classroom practices and district priorities around instruction, bilingual education and student supports. The selected district representatives will compete in county and state processes that can bring additional recognition to their schools and programs.
What’s next: The district will send its two representatives to the Contra Costa County and California Teacher of the Year competitions; the district also plans to photograph finalists and share their recognition more broadly.
