Jennifer McSparran

County Teacher of the Year 2012

Mt. Woodson Elementary Teacher Jennifer McSparran, flanked by students Gissele Lopez, left, and Hope Burton on Monday morning, is a San Diego County Teacher of the Year. McSparran received her honor during “Salute to Teachers,” televised from Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego on Saturday evening. Sentinel photo/Lynn Sampson

Jennifer McSparran, special education teacher at Mt. Woodson Elementary School, took center stage Saturday evening as one of five San Diego County Teachers of the Year.

McSparran, in her 12th year of teaching in Ramona Unified School District, received the honor during the televised “Salute to Teachers,” held in Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego and presented by Cox Communications and the San Diego County Office of Education.

In an email to all district employees on Sunday, RUSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Graeff sent “a royal congratulations” to McSparran.

“Representing 26,000 teachers from San Diego County, Jennifer will spend the next year advocating for public education at a variety of important gatherings and move forward into the statewide—and perhaps national—competition of teachers in California,” Graeff said in his email.

“I’m so honored and proud to represent Mt. Woodson Elementary and think each teacher at Mt. Woodson could have

One of five County Teachers of the Year, Mt. Woodson Elementary special education teacher Jennifer McSparran, second from right, stands with the four other teachers honored Saturday evening. Photo/Dr. Robert Graeff

been on that stage Saturday evening,” McSparran said in her classroom on Monday morning.

McSparran considers a successful classroom “one where all students are motivated and able to learn, regardless of social-economic status, ethnicity, or disability.”

“It is my hope the I can instill my enthusiasm for learning in every student so that they, too, become lifelong learners,” she stated when asked for her philosophy of teaching.

As Ramona Teacher of the Year, she became eligible to be considered for County Teacher of the Year. Two years ago, the Santee resident also was honored as a California Distinguished School Primary Writer.

“Mrs. McSparran’s influence in the education of Mt. Woodson students reaches well beyond our special education students,” Mt. Woodson Principal Theresa Grace said when the district announced its selection of McSparran as Teacher of the Year. “She has been instrumental in the development of our highly effective Response to Intervention Program, Student Assistance Team process, and our current Turn Around Schools initiative. Colleagues seek her out for advice and assistance in supporting struggling or challenging students in their classes, and she is always willing to help colleagues and students in need.”

Sentinel photo/Lynn Sampson

McSparran holds a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and special education from Rhode Island College. She earned her Master of Arts in Education, Level II Special Education, from California State University San Marcos in 2007. She also studied character education at Chapman University.

Ramona Unified teachers previously honored as county teachers of the year are Belle Bohn in 1996, Adrienne Moreland in 1993, Jose Smith in 1989, and Michael Jordan Sr. in 1988, Graeff noted.