John Baldwin Elementary's Ware named county Teacher of the Year finalist

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Marissa Ware, a second-grade teacher at Danville’s John Baldwin Elementary School, was selected this week as a finalist for Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year, continuing the San Ramon Valley’s strong record in the annual countywide competition.

A former John Baldwin student herself, Ware said her journey in education has come “full circle” as she now sits among four teachers with a chance to represent Contra Costa County in the California Teacher of the Year program.

“It is such an honor to be representing the teachers of San Ramon Valley Unified School District at this next level,” Ware said in an email interview. “I feel fortunate to be teaching in such a diverse district that provides rich professional development enriching so many dedicated, passionate and knowledgable teachers.”

“I have learned something from every colleague, student and parent that I have encountered over my 18 years of teaching, and I truly feel I am the teacher I am today because of the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” she added. “I hope to represent our district well.”

Ware, a district teacher since 2000, and three other educators were chosen by a 13-person committee that reviewed and rated applications for the 22 Teachers of the Year representing public school districts across the county. SRVUSD’s other nominee, Kelly Giotta from Gale Ranch Middle School in San Ramon, was among those eliminated.

The other county finalists are Paula Raj, Spanish teacher at De Anza High School in Richmond; Kari Steward, multiple subject teacher at Tice Creek School in Walnut Creek; and Tom Trowbridge, career technical education/regional occupational program teacher at Concord High School.

SRVUSD has had a county finalist nearly every year since the 2006 contest — 2015 was the exception.

Ware started teaching at her childhood campus John Baldwin from 2000-02. She moved to San Ramon’s Coyote Creek Elementary from 2002-10 and then returned for a second stint at John Baldwin in 2010.

She teaches second grade at the Brookside Drive campus.

John Baldwin principal Joe Romagna said he was “incredibly proud” of Ware’s selection as a county finalist and praised her commitment to enhancing the educational experience of her students and her peers.

“Marissa is an exemplary teacher that inspires her second-grade students to do their best while also instilling a love and joy for learning,” he said.

“In addition to her role in the classroom, Marissa’s colleagues note that she is a tremendous resource at John Baldwin Elementary and other sites as a literacy coach, where she helps teachers grow in their instructional practices in reading and writing,” he added.

The competition now gets more intense for Ware and the other three finalists, who will now vie during the next five months for an opportunity to be among the two county representatives in the state Teacher of the Year program.

A small group of educators and business partners will observe each teacher in her classroom and then conduct individual interviews later this month or early next month.

Then in August, each finalist will present a three- to five-minute speech to a panel of 12 education, business and public-sector representatives. The teachers will be graded on their speech and presentation skills.

The two winners are set to be announced during a banquet in Concord on Sept. 28 that will also honor all 22 district-level Teachers of the Year from throughout the county.