Burke honors education

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Burke Foundation 2009 Teachers of the Year Thomas Cormack and Robert Hodash.

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Nominees for Jim Burke Education Foundation Teachers of the Year.

Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) was one of six organizations to be honored with Humanitarian Mini Grants at the 14th annual Jim Burke Foundation Teacher of the Year Awards Night held at the KCSOS downtown office on April 28. The KCSOS Educational Services Foundation received the $500 minigrant in the memory of Corrine Werdell to benefit the office's KernCorps AmeriCorps program. Other programs receiving minigrants were Buena Vista Museum of Natural History's "Junior Docent Training," City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks' "Build a Bike," Metro-Bridging the Gap's "After School Tutoring," Victory Outreach's "Youth Center Curriculum" and Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault's "Choose Respect."

Biggest announcement of the evening was the naming of Burke's Teachers of the Year, which this year honored Sierra Middle School science teacher Robert Hodash and Kern Valley High School biology, chemistry and math instructor Thomas Cormack. They were tops among 23 county teachers who had been nominated for the award. Hodash and Cormack each received a Waterford crystal vase, $500 stipend and $500 contribution in their name to a department within their schools. All of the nominees were presented with a framed letter from one of their students, as well as a gift from the foundation in recognition of their contributions to education.

Principal Jeanie Brachear called Cormack, "One of the finest teachers I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and a role model for all in the teaching profession." Student Becca Norris added, "He tries to help every student achieve their goals, after he convinces them that goals are important and necessary. He has changed my life."

Hodash was praised by principal Tomas Prieto as a man who "has done it all in education — from interim principal, to vice principal to an amazing classroom teacher." Current student Nicholas Ybarra said of Hodash, "I have gained and evolved in maturity because of Mr. Hodash, and I now take the important things into consideration to become a responsible student."

Approximately $19,000 in monetary awards was presented to deserving schools, educators, community organizations and college students through the Burke Foundation.

Stonecreek Jr. High intervention counselor and AVID coordinator Lakesha Ray and Mira Monte High School math teacher Nathan Schultz were recipients of the Jim and Bebe Burke Rising Star Award. The award goes annually to new teachers who "have exceeded the expectations of their job and significantly impacted the lives of their students."

Five local students were the beneficiaries of $2,000 renewable scholarships based on scholastic achievement and community service. They were Foothill High's Jacquelynne Garcia, Vanderbilt University's Brant Bonetti, University of California, Riverside's Viet Nguyen, and UCLA's Andia Heydari and Cori Tucker. Two high school seniors, Foothill High's Annelise Bertrand and South High's Deborah Pena, received $1,000 Owen McCarthy Foundation Scholarships.

Singled out for special recognition was Aera Energy LLC Director of Public Affairs Susan Hershberger for her support of education and volunteer commitment to the Jim Burke Education Foundation.


Jim Burke Education Foundation 2009 Teachers of the Year Nominees
Patricia Abbasi — Liberty High
Scott Arvizu — Warren Jr. High
Molly Campbell — KHSD Regional Occupational Center
Judy Castro — Shafter High
Melanie Castro — Centennial High
Thomas Cormack — Kern Valley High
Susan DeLateur — Highland High
Myja Gardner — Washington Middle
Irene Gonzales — Bakersfield High
Kenelee Henderson — Frontier High
Robert Hodash — Sierra Middle
Scott Manzer — Foothill High
Erin McGinnis — Chipman Jr. High
Victoria McKniff — Garces Memorial High
Ken Meyers — Arvin High
Lorita Murphree — Thompson Jr. High
Todd Price — Stonecreek Jr. High
Catherine Putnam — Actis Jr. High
Ruben Rios — Ridgeview High
Walter Schartmann — North High
Linda Stewart — Mira Monte High
Toni Sward — Stockdale High
Aaron Wherry — Golden Valley High


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