Two PUSD teachers are best in county, advancing to state contest

By Emily Sorensen

Two of the teachers honored in March as Teacher of the Year in the Poway Unified School District have been awarded further honors by the San Diego County Office of Education, among five selected Saturday, Oct. 6 as San Diego County’s Teachers of the Year.

Anthony Bayro and Martin Reisert at the San Diego County Teachers of the Year ceremony.

Martin Reisert, a sixth-grade teacher at Oak Valley Middle School in 4S Ranch, and Anthony Bayro, who teaches third grade at Los Penasquitos Elementary School, were named as a middle school and elementary school winners, respectively.

When Reisert was awarded his Teacher of the Year award in March, his students couldn’t stop gushing about his love of world cultures, and how he taught them to his class. “He’s been everywhere he teaches us about, except Mesopotamia, because there’s a war there,” said one student. He also encourages his students to look beyond the classroom and see how they can make a difference, raising money for local and international charities, including helping tsunami victims in Thailand, and raising funds and awareness of orphans in Malawi with last year’s sixth-grade class.

“Martin is an amazing teacher. He transforms his students in so many ways. They leave his class after one year with all the necessary knowledge, a new confidence about themselves, and a new awareness and passion about helping other people who may need help in our school, community or the world!” said Oak Valley Middle School principal Sonya Wrisley in a press release. “Martin is not just their teacher for sixth grade — he stays in touch with them for years! He truly loves his students, he makes learning fun, and he teaches them to be compassionate.”

Reisert is in his 12th year of teaching sixth grade in Poway Unified School District. He taught at Bernardo Heights Middle School from 2001 to 2004 before moving to Oak Valley Middle School, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree in Education from Dowling College, Oakdale, New York.

Anthony Bayro is also in his 12th year of teaching in the PUSD. He began teaching as a fifth-grade teacher in the Los Penasquitos Academy program, working after school with students dealing with issues at home, students whose parents were in jail or involved in criminal behavior, and families who were not native English speakers, and needed extra time and support from the school to succeed. Former students described Bayro as hands-on and willing to go the distance to help out a student in need.

“Passion, dedication, and commitment are qualities Anthony brings to his classroom each day. His excitement for teaching creates a stimulating learning environment for his students. He is admired by colleagues and called upon as a leader in technology innovation,” said Los Peñasquitos Elementary School principal Deanne McLaughlin in a press release.

Bayro has also taught first and fifth grade at Los Penasquitos Elementary School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal State San Marcos and his Master of Arts degree from National University.

As county winners, Reisart and Bayro will now move on to the California Teacher of the Year competition.

The San Diego County Office of Education honors were presented in an Academy Awards-style Cox Channel 4 television special held at the Balboa Theater.

Related posts:

1. Two PUSD teachers earn county honors
2. Students walk the red carpet at iVIE
3. Eight new principals appointed by PUSD board
4. Sign up for Poway Unified summer camps

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Posted by Emily Sorensen on Oct 10 2012. Filed under Schools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry