Roseville Joint Union High District honors seven site Teachers of the Year

The Roseville Joint Union High School District honored seven site Teachers of the Year during the board meeting, recognizing educators from West Park, Roseville, Pathways, Oakmont, Granite Bay and Wood Creek for classroom leadership, program development and student mentorship.

West Park High honored band director Patrick Nef for building an award-winning program, writing the school's fight song, designing uniforms and serving as a mentor. A student who addressed the board said of the program, "one of the most entertaining moments of any game is watching Patrick" and praised his energetic leadership.

Roseville High celebrated Patty Leong for 25 years in education, leadership as visual-arts coordinator and work advising mural projects and community art nights. A student quoted in the remarks said Leong "doesn't just teach us about art; she makes us feel inspired to go and find these art pieces all around the world."

Roseville Pathways' Aaron Cook was recognized for meeting students at varied levels and fostering perseverance and resilience. Oakmont's Janette Snider was honored for raising LPAC pass rates and for work supporting English learners and LGBTQ+ students. Granite Bay's Heidi Rounds was noted for expanding IB enrollments and leading staff-culture activities. Wood Creek's Christa Myers was recognized for leading multiple dual-enrollment courses, starting mentorship programs and coordinating staff wellness.

Board members and principals presented short tributes describing each honoree's classroom impact, program leadership and contributions to student success. The board's public comments and applause underscored the district's emphasis on teacher leadership and student opportunity.