October 4, 2005

Campbell teachers receive prestigious Crystal Flame awards
from Santa Clara County Office of Education

Peers from Campbell school districts select them as ‘Teachers of the Year’

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

Boynton High School teacher Christopher Hodgkins and former Marshall Lane Elementary School teacher Judy Hinkley are the recipients of this year’s prestigious Crystal Flame award from the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Christopher Hodgkins
Hodgkins was among 30 educators named “Teachers of the Year” by county education officials and recognized during the 36th annual Teacher Recognition Day awards ceremony the evening of Sept. 26 at the historic Heritage Theatre in Campbell.

Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Colleen Wilcox honored 30 teachers during the countywide 36th annual Teacher Recognition Day awards ceremony the evening of Sept. 26 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell. Photo by Sheila Sanchez

“It’s pretty exciting to get this at the end of my teaching career,” Hodgkins said after the awards ceremony. “It’s exciting that my peers voted for me to be teacher of the year.”

The 57-year-old Hodgkins teaches English at the alternative high school and is credited with making a difference in the lives of at-risk students. He’s taught for 29 years, seven with the Campbell Union High School District.

In nominating him for the Teacher of the Year award, his colleagues wrote,“Chris is an extraordinary human being—a well educated, caring teacher whose enthusiasm and creative spirit touch all around him. He creates standards-based lessons to teach at-risk students with the same emphasis he did when teaching (West Valley College’s) Middle College students. In the continuation program, he has made a difference in the participation and attendance of our students. His upbeat and positive attitude is infectious,” read a paragraph written by the district’s nominating committee.

For his part, Hodgkins said, “Teaching and learning should be fun as well as challenging. I try to see something special, something positive in each student. They reward me by showing the best of themselves.”

Boynton High School Principal Karen Wagner congratulated Hodgkins for the coveted award and said she was lucky when he decided to apply for a job with the district. “The kids love him and he does a great job with them,” Wagner said. “The day we announced his award, he was walking back to the classroom and every student walked out of the classroom to applaud him. It was very heartfelt.”

Judy Hinckley
Judy Hinckley, a retired teacher from Marshall Lane School in the Campbell Union School District,, was also among the recipients of this year’s Crystal Flame awards.

District superintendent Johanna VanderMolen accepted the award on Hinckley’s behalf, as she’s moved to Southern California and did not attend the ceremony. She retired last June.

Her colleagues in the Campbell Union School District selected former Marshall Lane Elementary School teacher Judy Hinkley as the district’s ‘Teacher of the Year.’ She was unable to attend the ceremony because she has moved to Southern California.

“I have loved my job since the first day,” Hinckley said. She taught for 38 years, 37 of those with the district. “I love the creativity of the work. I love trying new ideas, modifying them and seeing them work in the classroom.

“The best part is when a student ‘gets it.’ There’s a visible surge of energy that goes through them as they get excited about grasping an idea and using it,” she said.

In nominating her for the Teacher of the Year award, her colleagues wrote that, “Her dedication to her profession, her students and her colleagues make Judy a role model to teachers. Besides teaching first through fourth grade classes at a number of schools, she has served as a literacy coach, an after-school tutor for students and a mentor to countless new teachers. She has been dedicated to the teachers association and has held many offices over the years.”

In response Hinckley said, “Children are our greatest asset and to be able to ignite a spark of wonder, open a heart or inspire a dream, has been my goal. Learning is a lifetime process and it’s okay to make mistakes—that’s how we learn. Learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom; life is a classroom.”

Hinckley, who lived in San Jose, grew up in San Mateo, where her parents encouraged her and her brother to attend college. She attended San Mateo Junior College, then San Jose State University where she earned a teaching credential, a bachelor’s degree in social science and minored in psychology.

In 1968, she came to Campbell Union School District, where her role as a teacher and leader grew. She served as a literacy coach for students in kindergarten through second grade, was a mentor teacher, and served as a grade-level chairperson. After school, Hinckley was often tutored struggling readers in her classroom.

His colleagues in the Campbell Union High School District selected Boynton High School teacher Christopher Hodgkins as ‘Teacher of the Year.’ Boynton High School Principal Karen Wagner accompanied him to an awards ceremony at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell where Santa Clara County Office of Education leaders honored him for his work. Photo by Sheila Sanchez

“Education is about more than content. It’s much deeper,” she said. “Kids learn when they’re emotionally involved—whether they’re excited because they ‘get it,’ or sad because they had to pay a consequence. Learning comes through connections.”

The teachers were selected by their districts for their ability to exceptionally communicate the subject matter to their students in an interesting, relevant and effective manner, using creative methods in classroom instruction, continually upgrading and updating their education through classes, training or staff development programs, participating in activities within the profession, keeping aware of issues and trends and encouraging professionalism and serving as a champion for students, schools and community.

“These teachers epitomize excellence in classroom teaching,” said Colleen Wilcox, Santa Clara County schools chief. “Their skill, creativity and commitment to success for every student makes a real difference and inspires their students and colleagues alike.”

Wilcox remembers her own ‘greatest teacher’
Under the theme, “Remember your greatest teacher?” Wilcox said county education officials have always understood the importance of excellent teachers. “Tonight we honor great teachers. Those who not only teach us the subject matter, but also inspire us and enable us to discover our passions and pursue our dreams.”

Wilcox remembered “Mr. Ken Beausong,” her favorite eighth-grade speech and drama teacher. She said he was talented, could act, direct, play the piano and sing.

Shahin Maleksalehi, a sophomore at Prospect High School in the Campbell Union High School District, entertained the honorees with two piano performances. Maleksalehi is an honor student and one of the best tennis team players at the school. Photo by Sheila Sanchez

“But that’s not why I remember him. I remember him because he smiled so big and encouraged us so often, he greeted us by name and talked with us in the hallway, he laughed at our jokes, he convinced us that we were extraordinary, that we could do anything above and beyond what we thought we could do—to achieve dreams we
had not yet dreamt.”

She recalled how after class, Mr. Beausong would give students hand-written notes on yellow sheets of paper commenting, cajoling and sometimes criticizing them and then drawing a stick figure to keep it upbeat.

“I kept every one of those notes. They were proof that I mattered. The message was clear: You are worth my time. You’re someone special. There is a bit of Mr. Beausong in every teacher we honor tonight,” Wilcox said.

Santa Clara County Board of Education President Leon Beauchman, and many county education board members joined Wilcox in expressing appreciation to the honorees. Many state, city and county lawmakers also attended the event including Assemblyman Ira Ruskin and Santa Clara County Supervisor Jim Beall.

Shahin Maleksalehi, a sophomore at Prospect High School in the Campbell Union High School District, entertained the honorees with two piano performances. Maleksalehi is an honor student and one of the best tennis team players at the school.