SAN JOSE, CA – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the 2026 California Teachers of the Year today, October 30. Among the five educators is local Piedmont Hills High School math teacher, Chrizia Dela Rosa from the East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD). 

​“Congratulations to Chrizia,” said Dr. David M. Toston, Sr. County Superintendent. “She is an exceptional educator who exemplifies how to engage students in learning. ���߲����� is proud of you and all you have done. We look forward to seeing you represent our state in education.”

Dela Rosa was celebrated as the ESUHSD Teacher of the Year at the SCCOE’s annual Teacher Recognition Celebration on October 27. She has 14 years in the teaching profession, with seven of them in the ESUHSD. 

To learn about the 2026 California Teachers of the Year, visit https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel47.asp 

To watch Dela Rosa’s video about how she engages students, please visit ��ٳٱ��://��dzܳٳ�.����/5���ݻ��2�崡����?����=������۱籷��3�ٳ���ѳ۴� ​

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​SAN JOSE, CA – Nearly 300 people celebrated the county’s top teachers at the 55th Annual Teacher Recognition Celebration on October 27 at the ���߲����� Office of Education. Accompanied by their loved ones and colleagues, 30 teachers representing their school districts were honored for their achievements at the annual event. 

“Each teacher recognized at the celebration made one thing very clear – they care for their students and for their well-being as humans,” said Dr. David M. Toston, Sr. County Superintendent. “They all emphasized that the connections made with students are how they make learning engaging and meaningful.” 

Additionally, the evening’s ceremony paid tribute to the founders of the state’s largest and longest-standing celebration of educators, Pauline and Frank Lowe. 

​A�ɲ�����	​T�𲹳�����
Alum Rock Union School District	​�ċShayne Soriano
​Berryessa Union School District	​Rob Trinidad
​Cambrian School District	​Jennifer Fore
​Campbell Union High School District	​Barbara Schremp
​Campbell Union School District	Patricia Curiel
Cupertino Union School District	​Shelly Toohey
​East Side Union High School District	​Chrizia Dela Rosa
​Evergreen Elementary School District	​Bernadette B. Marcias
​Franklin-McKinley School District	​Adrian Sarellano
​Fremont Union High School District	​Ana Franco
​Gilroy Unified School District	​Chantelle D’Angelis
​Lakeside Joint School District	​Elizabeth Greer
​Loma Prieta Joint Union School District	​Cari Termpleton
​Los Altos School District	​Diane Sasaki
​Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District	​Emily Christie
​Los Gatos Union School District	​Kristin Johnson
​Luther Burbank School District	​Lisa Gil
​Metropolitan Education District	​Cassidy Cannizzaro
​Milpitas Unified School District	​Keri Clemente
​Moreland School District	​Teresa Zygadlo
​Morgan Hill Unified School District	​Raven Jackson
​Mount Pleasant Elementary School District	​Kelsey Meder
​Mountain View Whisman School District	​Liz Parry
​Oak Grove School District	​Kristie Morikawa
​San Jose Unified School District	​Michael Boston
​���߲����� Board of Education - Authorized Charter	​Annie M. Kretowicz
​Santa Clara Unified School District	​Rosella Marie Guttadauro
​Saratoga Union School District	​Kristina Talia
​Sunnyvale School District	​Jennifer Taylor
​Union School District	​Julia Pugliese​

Teachers demonstrating exemplary work in civics, the arts, and STEM were also recognized at the ceremony with awards sponsored by The Tech Interactive and the Miratar Federal Credit Union. 

The ���߲����� Teacher Recognition Celebration, hosted annually by the SCCOE, is one of California's oldest and largest events. Please visit �ɷɷ�.�������DZ�.�ǰ���/�ٰ���​ for more information about the Teacher Recognition Celebration, including its history.

Photos and video from the event are available at www.sccoe.org/trc