Schools

Two Santee Educators Chosen as District Teacher of the Year Nominees

Santana's Eileen Bagg-Rizzo and West Hills' Randy Cambou were also chosen to represent GUHSD in the County Teacher of the Year competition.

Santee dominated this year's Grossmont Union High School District Teacher of the Year awards, with two local teachers being chosen as the top of the pack to send to the San Diego County Teacher of the Year competition.

Santana's Eileen Bagg-Rizzo and West Hills' Randy Cambou were honored at the GUHSD board meeting on Wednesday, along with many of their peers.

The nominees are selected by their peers, and a panel comprised of previous Teachers of the Year and District personnel selected two representatives from this distinguished group of nominees to be considered for the San Diego County Teacher of the Year competition. If selected to represent the County, the next step is the California State Teacher of the Year competition.

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Eileen Bagg-Rizzo teaches English and Team Excel, a course in the Environmental Design Pathway at Santana, where she has been teaching since 1990. She also coaches Varsity Swim, has been a Department Chairperson, and has served as Coordinator for the AP Challenge Grant, a literacy program, and the English Language Learner’s program. Bagg-Rizzo has also been a member of the school’s Leadership Team and School Site Council, a Mentor Teacher, and a club and class advisor during her tenure at Santana.

According to Santana Principal Tim Schwuchow, Eileen, “is an outstanding instructor, a natural leader, and (she makes) Santana a better place.” 

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A student of Ms. Bagg-Rizzo wrote: “Remarkable teachers give students life skills that are applicable both inside and outside of the classroom for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Bagg-Rizzo is a genuinely remarkable teacher.” 

Randy Cambou is an A.P. Government Teacher and the WASC Coordinator at West Hills, where he has been teaching since 2004. He also serves on the West Hills’ Site Leadership Team, Department Chair Council, Professional Development Committee, and is the Grossmont Education Association Site Representative.

Principal Paul Dautremont states that, “Randy doesn’t teach government from a textbook, but rather he encourages his students to get out and participate in government on all levels. He has proven himself to be a strong teacher and advocate for the students with whom he works.”

A student of Randy Cambou said, “Mr. Cambou doesn’t teach for the money or the summer vacation; he teaches in the hopes of inspiring just one person to change the world. If there was one thing I took away from his class, it is that I am a single pebble; while I may be small and overlooked, I am capable of creating great ripples in even the largest bodies of water.”

El Capitan art and photography teacher Gina Grossini was also chosen as a GUHSD Teacher of the Year nominee.

A GUHSD new release contributed to this post.


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