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Danville elementary school teacher Marissa Ware has been chosen as one of two Teachers of the Year by the Contra Costa County Office of Education.
The selection of Ware — a second-grade teacher at John Baldwin Elementary School — was announced at a dinner gala Thursday night. She will join fellow awardee Paula Raj from the West Contra Costa Unified School District in advancing to the statewide Teacher of the Year program, representing Contra Costa County.
“Teaching is my passion, it’s part of who I am, so I am humbled and honored to have been one of the teachers chosen to move on to the state competition,” Ware said. “I hope to represent the ideals of Contra Costa County Office of Education: respect, integrity, diversity, teamwork, ethical leadership, creativity/innovation, advocacy for all learners.”
A former John Baldwin student herself, Ware has taught for 18 years, in the district since 2000 and at Baldwin for the past six years.
She originally planned on becoming a physical therapist, but she said she switched to education, when while working with an infant development program in college, she grew interested in the development of infant and toddler patients, both physically and mentally.
Ware is the 12th SRVUSD teacher to advance to the state competition [ since the county program began in the 1972-73 school year, and she’s the first SRVUSD teacher to advance since Cindy Egan, a science teacher at San Ramon Valley High, won the Contra Costa award in 2013 and became a statewide semifinalist. The district had county finalists in 2014 and 2016 but they failed to advance to state level.
Ware was among 22 teachers selected by district leaders throughout Contra Costa County in April as local Teachers of the Year. Kelly Giotta from San Ramon’s Gale Ranch Middle School was the other SRVUSD teacher chosen as one of the 22 district-level honorees.
After application review by a committee of 13 judges, teachers were eventually whittled down to four finalists, with Kari Stewart from Walnut Creek School District and Tom Trowbridge from Mt. Diablo Unified joining Ware and Raj.
As part of the final stage of the selection process, the four finalists were observed in their classrooms by a small group of educators and business partners, interviewed individually and then graded on a three- to five-minute speech the teachers gave to a 12-member panel of education, business and public-sector representatives.
“We are so fortunate to have wonderful teachers like Marissa Ware supporting the students of the San Ramon Valley,” said Elizabeth Graswich, communications director for the district. “Mrs. Ware and our other SRVUSD Teacher of the Year, Kelly Giotta, are exemplars of the excellent teaching that takes place in our schools.”
About 500 attendees were on hand to honor all 22 district-level teachers of the year at Thursday’s gala at the Hilton Concord Hotel.
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Marissa Ware has taught in SRVUSD since 2000. She is currently a second grade teacher at John Baldwin Elementary School in Danville. (Photo by Jonathan Lance, Contra Costa County Office of Education) -
About 500 people were in attendance for the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Gala, held at the Hilton Concord Hotel Thursday night. (Photo by Jonathan Lance, CCCOE) -
Marissa Ware with her fellow Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Paula Raj, a teacher from the West Contra Costa Unified School District. (Photo by Jonathan Lance, CCCOE)
So awesome to be at the awards event. So many great teachers in our county. Way to rise above Marissa!! Our kids are proud and enthusiastic you are on campus. Congratulations.