FALLBROOK: Two local educators nominated for county's top teacher honor
Fallbrook High School, La Paloma Elementary teachers praised for dedication, hard work
By TOM PFINGSTEN - Staff Writer | ∞
Fallbrook High School history teacher Steve Kettering and La Paloma Elementary School 6th-grade teacher Elsa Grijalva, Fallbrook's teachers of the year, will be honored with 41 other county educators this Saturday. (Photo by Hayne Palmour IV - Staff Photographer) FALLBROOK ---- When hundreds of educators meet to honor the best instructors in the county on Saturday, two of Fallbrook's most loved and productive teachers will be somewhere in the crowded theater.
One or both might even take home top honors as a San Diego County teacher of the year, five of whom will be chosen during the ceremony.
But those who know them and their work say the classroom is their true stage, and that several generations of students have benefitted from the hard work they've put in over the years in this tight-knit community.
La Paloma's Elsa Grijalva and Fallbrook High School's Steve Kettering are two of 43 "teacher of the year" candidates from around San Diego County who will be honored during a televised ceremony at the Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Kettering and Grijalva have a combined 50 years of experience teaching in Fallbrook, and together they represent major achievements and countless individual classroom victories.
Their relationships with students often stretch back for decades, as illustrated by an exchange Grijalva had last year with a youngster in her 6th-grade class.
"I always ask my students, 'Did I have any of your brothers or sisters in my class?'" she said. "Last year, I had a little girl in my class who said, 'You had my mom and dad.'
"I said, 'What? I've been at it too long, don't tell me that,'" joked the longtime Fallbrook teacher, who started her career at La Paloma 24 years ago and has taught there ever since.
La Paloma Principal Lea Curcio was enthusiastic about Grijalva's efforts at the 670-student elementary school off Heald Lane.
"She is probably one of the most competent, exciting classroom teachers you'll ever see," Curcio said. "I have never seen someone the kids just love so much. They're coming back to invite her to their high school graduations, their baby showers, their weddings."
And it's not just her likability that endears her to students and colleagues. Said Curcio: "She has test scores to prove it. She is incredible."
As for Kettering, who teaches history and helps coach several sports for the Warriors, Fallbrook High School Principal Rod King said it would be hard to find a teacher more liked and admired by his students.
"He's one of the best teachers that we have on this campus," King said.
Besides a long career as one of the high school's most popular instructors, Kettering won praise this year for his recent work as the person in charge of ensuring the campus renewed its accreditation earlier this year.
In March, Fallbrook High School received a glowing review from a regional accreditation board called the "Western Association of Schools and Colleges," which grants campuses in California their formal credentials to educate children.
In extreme cases, dysfunctional schools may have their accreditation revoked, although it is rare, and many universities will only accept diplomas and credits from schools that are accredited.
The positive review was good news for the high school, because it removed the probationary status bestowed by the association during its last visit three years ago.
But King and many others at the high school also seemed to take personal pride in the good things the association's review team had to say.
And on Wednesday, King once again praised Kettering for helping the process go smoothly.
"He was just a tour-de-force ---- the right guy in the right place at the right time," said King. "He was absolutely masterful in getting the staff as a whole to collaborate and participate in the WASC process. That's just essential for being successful in the accreditation process."
Even still, it is Kettering's teaching that will leave the most lasting imprint at the high school, said the principal: "They have a saying in this business: 'They don't care what you know until they know that you care.' And that's Steve."
Contact staff writer Tom Pfingsten at (760) 740-3516 or tpfingsten@nctimes.com.
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JSten wrote on Sep 18, 2008 2:58 PM:It gives me grat pleasure to offer my congratulations to Ms. Grajalva on her achievement. My daughter benefitted greatly from being in her class years ago. She truly has made a difference with all of the children in our community with whom she has been involved.
Another Teacher wrote on Sep 18, 2008 3:58 PM:To JSten...You should also seek the services of Ms. Grijalva. Submitting a
post with misspelled words, including the teachers name, says a lot about your level of education.
to another teacher wrote on Sep 18, 2008 6:58 PM:If you are indeed a fellow teacher, how dare you try to shame JSten for praising one of our comrades? What does his level of education have to do with anything here? Correcting and editing posts isn't part of your homework, but fostering positive relationships in the community is surely one of our most important priorities. JSten, thank you for posting on behalf of Ms. Grijalva. All too often we teachers feel our efforts go unnoticed. Hurray for Steve Kettering and Ms. Grijalva! You make us proud!
Thank you wrote on Sep 18, 2008 7:21 PM:I had Steve Kettering as a teacher when I went to Fallbrook High School. He was a fantastic teacher and motivator. I became a teacher myself because of great role models like him.
La Paloma Alumni 1987 wrote on Sep 18, 2008 8:48 PM:Congratulations Ms Grijalva. Great roll model for all students. Keep up the great worl
I think... wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:16 AM:"Another Teacher" is just jealous of a fellow comrades acheivements!
Congrats to both teachers!!
To Another Teacher... wrote on Sep 19, 2008 1:05 PM:Talk about throwing stones since your post also contains an error: teachers should be teacher's... Oh well.
On a more positive note: congratulations to both teachers. Pretty awesome we have not just one educator being honored, but two! Way to go!
JSten wrote on Sep 28, 2008 3:07 PM:I don't think that was a teacher.
But I thank those who responded in my defense. Now, where's the spell-checker?
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