Schools

Willow Grove Elementary's Smith Named District Teacher of the Year

Heather Smith was among three teachers in the Poway Unified School District to be surprised Wednesday morning with the award.

Preschool teacher Heather Smith, who works at Willow Grove Elementary in Del Sur, was surprised by Poway Unified School District Superintendent John Collins Wednesday morning in her classroom, who let her know she was one of three District Teachers of the Year.

Collins was joined by board members Andy Patapow and Marc Davis, as well as Poway Federation of Teachers President Candy Smiley and last year's Teachers of the Year: Anthony Bayro, Megan Power and Martin Reisert.

Smitih has been with PUSD for nine years, first teaching pre-kindergarten at Sunset Hills Elementary before making her way to Willow Grove.

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Inspired by her own time in preschool, where she was confined to a wheelchair due to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Smith recalls her own teacher's actions that still stick with her today.

“She would lift me out of my chair and sit on the rug with me, talking to me, and teaching me in a way that made me forget about my disability,” Smith said in a press release.

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Heather was invited to be part of a national research project piloting a new math curriculum for preschool four years ago, which she's implemented in her own classroom. Smith now mentors new preschool teachers in both math and writing methodologies and her interactive group writing lessons were recognized last November at the Poway Unified School Board meeting showcasing innovative preschool programs within PUSD.

The pre-kindergarten is also actively working with the Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation helping to raise money to fight the disease she dealt with as a child. 

Smith shares the honor of being a District Teacher of the Year with Kerry Araiza, who teaches second grade at Pomerado Elementary in Poway, and Jay Posteraro, a music teacher at Mesa Verde Middle School in Rancho Penasquitos.


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