Two Alumni Named California Teacher of the Year
Each year, California selects five Teachers of the Year. Two of the 2021 winners are alumni of the UCI School of Education: Laura Gómez, who earned a B.A. in 1994 and a teaching credential in 1995, and Jim Klipfel, who earned a teaching credential in 1993. Additionally, Klipfel was put forward as the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year.
LAURA GÓMEZ
Involving the family in children's education For 2021 California Teacher of the Year Laura Gómez, families at Glenn L. Martin Elementary School are an essential part of the educational experience. She invites parents of her third graders to a Mother’s Day tea, donuts with dad, family math nights, and readers’ theater performances in the classroom.
“For some families, school might feel a little intimidating. It’s my job to remove barriers while fostering communication,” Gómez said. “If we’re really talking about educating the whole child, then family has to be part of it. The relationships I develop with students and parents cultivate participation, which leads to improvement in my students’ achievement and well-being.” As a first-generation college graduate and immigrant growing up in Tijuana, San Diego and Los Angeles, Gómez is well aware of the transformative power of education. Gómez fell in love with the “safety and coziness” of UCI on her first visit to the campus. Majoring in Spanish, she planned to become a high school Spanish teacher until she spent time as an instructional aide in an elementary school classroom. |
“There’s something really special about kids that age,” she said. “They’re so natural, so pure, so honest, and so full of curiosity about the world.”
Because she was already an Anteater and proud of the university’s reputation, Gómez decided to earn a multiple subject credential at UCI. Over the years, Gómez has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater, regularly bringing her students on field trips to campus, and by mentoring student teachers from UCI.
Martin Elementary Principal Peter Richardson, who has worked with Gómez for the last 10 years, helped nominate her for Teacher of the Year.
“Laura has this insatiable desire to serve both kids and families,” Richardson said. “Plus, she has this rare, amazing mix of being both super intelligent and highly creative. She’s never done learning and is always trying to do things better and better.”
Because she was already an Anteater and proud of the university’s reputation, Gómez decided to earn a multiple subject credential at UCI. Over the years, Gómez has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater, regularly bringing her students on field trips to campus, and by mentoring student teachers from UCI.
Martin Elementary Principal Peter Richardson, who has worked with Gómez for the last 10 years, helped nominate her for Teacher of the Year.
“Laura has this insatiable desire to serve both kids and families,” Richardson said. “Plus, she has this rare, amazing mix of being both super intelligent and highly creative. She’s never done learning and is always trying to do things better and better.”
For example, Gómez developed family math nights that brought parents and children together to play games that build math skills without focusing on memorization. It was so well received that the idea was eventually expanded to the whole school.
“For me, the family math nights combined my love of student leadership, family involvement, academic rigor, and creating family memories,” Gómez said. “They remember that experience forever.” |
“If we’re really talking about educating the whole child, then family has to be part of it. The relationships I develop with students and parents cultivate participation, which leads to improvement in my students’ achievement and well-being.”
- Laura Gomez '95 |
Gómez aims to continually evolve to meet her students where they are – certainly a moving target in the age of the internet and COVID-19. When schools were shut down during the pandemic, Gómez handwrote postcards, made phone calls, and delivered school supplies and WiFi hotspots to her students to keep both students and their families connected.
“My educational plan is to focus on each child being ‘seen’ in the classroom, determine their strengths and needs, and then provide the explicit instruction and engaging learning activities they need to grow.”
“My educational plan is to focus on each child being ‘seen’ in the classroom, determine their strengths and needs, and then provide the explicit instruction and engaging learning activities they need to grow.”
JIM KLIPFEL
A research-driven approach to teaching
A research-driven approach to teaching
“I crave Mondays,” said Jim Klipfel, a 30-year veteran of William S. Hart Union High School District in Los Angeles County and a 2021 California Teacher of the Year. “And I can’t wait for school to start in August.”
An uncommon opinion, perhaps, but not surprising from someone who wanted to become a teacher ever since he was a teenager. Klipfel, the youngest of eight children, found growing up difficult, but that mentors, role models and great teachers could make it better. After graduating from UC Davis, Klipfel started student teaching and coaching swimming in Huntington Beach, Calif., while commuting to UCI to earn his credential. "The whole experience was a giant blur, but I loved it and would do it again,” Klipfel said. “I had great, loving, informative and informed professors at UCI.” Klipfel spent the following three decades teaching History and coaching swimming in Hart UHSD, where his wife and fellow UCI alum, Jennifer, also teaches. He committed himself to continuous improvement from the outset – every spring, he asks his students to evaluate him, and then spends time each summer combing through their input. |
“A lot of what I do today, the way I teach, the graphic organizers and prompts that I use, are heavily based on student feedback over the years,” Klipfel said. “Especially in my middle career, that student feedback was so critical.”
His other secret to success: “Read like crazy.”
“People are publishing on the struggles of youth, education, psychology, and the human condition,” Klipfel said. “I think it’s really important for schools and teachers to stay up to date on the latest research.”
Teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic presented unexpected challenges for educators everywhere, but for Klipfel and his colleagues at Saugus High School, the pandemic was just the latest in a string of tragedies. In 2019, some students lost their homes to wildfires. Later that year, an on-campus shooting left three students dead. To address the emotional toll on students, Klipfel now starts each class with a quote, study or article about mental health.
His other secret to success: “Read like crazy.”
“People are publishing on the struggles of youth, education, psychology, and the human condition,” Klipfel said. “I think it’s really important for schools and teachers to stay up to date on the latest research.”
Teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic presented unexpected challenges for educators everywhere, but for Klipfel and his colleagues at Saugus High School, the pandemic was just the latest in a string of tragedies. In 2019, some students lost their homes to wildfires. Later that year, an on-campus shooting left three students dead. To address the emotional toll on students, Klipfel now starts each class with a quote, study or article about mental health.
“I’m more aware than ever that if a kid doesn’t feel safe and loved, they are not going to learn,” he said.
For Klipfel, the Teacher of the Year award is about the team he works with and the challenges they’ve overcome together. The greatest moment of joy that came from the award, he said, was getting to gather with colleagues he hadn’t seen in person in months and celebrate with them by eating burritos. |
“People are publishing on the struggles of youth, education, psychology, and the human condition. I think it’s really important for schools and teachers to stay up to date on the latest research.”
- Jim Klipfel '93 |
“As a teacher, his students know that he loves them, and he uses his content as a vehicle not only to teach academic skills, but important life skills as well, such as: resiliency, setting goals, fostering relationships and living a life of service,” said Vincent Ferry, Saugus High School principal, who helped nominate Klipfel.
And it’s not only students whom Klipfel pushes to achieve their greatest potential.
“As a colleague,” Ferry said, “Jim challenges us all to try a little harder and to do a little more.”
And it’s not only students whom Klipfel pushes to achieve their greatest potential.
“As a colleague,” Ferry said, “Jim challenges us all to try a little harder and to do a little more.”