2020 Teachers of the Year

  • Two teachers in OUSD schools have been selected as District Teachers of the Year for 2020!

     

    “To teach day in and day out, keeping students engaged and excited about learning, keeping their approach fresh and innovative, all while providing a warm, supportive and safe environment is what our educators do in classes across the District. Ms. Diamond and Ms. Kim show the best of Oakland every day they’re in the classroom, and they are outstanding examples of the greatness of our teaching staff. I send my heartfelt congratulations to both of them, their students, their colleagues and their families.” - Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell

     

    Our Teachers of the Year will be honored by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Superintendent Johnson-Trammell in the coming weeks, and formally honored by the Board of Education in the fall. Each of the Teachers of the Year is automatically nominated to be Alameda County Teacher of the Year, the winners of which will be announced later in the fall. The winners of that title will compete for California Teacher of the Year. Best wishes and congratulations to our OUSD Teachers of the Year!

  • Ms. Diamond

     

    Phoebe Diamond

     

    Chabot Elementary

     

    Phoebe Diamond is a 3rd Grade Teacher at Chabot Elementary, and has served Oakland Unified for several years in multiple roles beyond the classroom including lead math teacher, member of the Site Instructional Leadership Team, and member of the Math Core Curriculum Production Team.

     

    Ms. Diamond has taught in OUSD for more than 29 years and has countless valuable memories. For instance, she remembers having overheard students who had previously struggled linguistically and academically finally using academic language to help their peers understand a topic. Ms. Diamond is known for having high expectations for every child and for having an unshakable belief that every child can master the standards. She does everything in her power to ensure all of her students succeed.

     

    Colleagues say Ms. Diamond’s young scholars are fully supported to use evidence, show their thinking, explain their answers and dig more deeply into the curriculum. Her classroom is a place where academic discussions and vocabulary are commonplace. Chabot Principal Jessica Cannon said, “Ms. Diamond’s expectations for her students are rivaled only by those she holds for herself... I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever met a harder working, more dedicated, and more reflective teacher than Phoebe Diamond.”

     

    Congratulations Ms. Diamond!

  • Ms. Kim

     

    Ji-Yun "Jane" Kim

     

    Fremont High School

     

    Ji-Yun "Jane" Kim is a 9th grade Biology, 11th grade Physiology, and Advanced Placement Biology Teacher at Fremont High School. She also serves as Site-Based Coach, Science Department Chair and 9th Grade Co-Lead and previously served OUSD as a Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Coach, Curriculum Developer, and as a High School Science Specialist with the Academic Innovation Division. Ms. Kim wants each of her students to feel individually recognized, welcomed, and supported.

     

    Colleagues say the school community counts on her for far more than what she accomplishes within her classroom, whether coordinating field trips for the 9th grade house, planning advisory curriculum to prepare 9th grade students for student-led conferences, or planning learning walks for her Science Department, Ms. Kim is attentive to ensuring tasks are completed effectively and on time while always keeping the big picture in mind. Because of her innovation in piloting Lesson Study and the success of her protocol and tools within the Science Department, the school administration chose to implement Lesson Study school-wide. Fremont High Co-Principal Tom Skjervheim said, “Ms. Kim is a force when creating classroom culture… She is one of the best teachers and teacher leaders I have worked with and I gladly recommend her for Oakland Teacher of the Year.”

     

     

    Congratulations Ms. Kim!