Special to the Town CrierEveryone has a teacher who touches their life. Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School instructor Joy Hellman is just such a teacher.
"The great teachers are magical and Joy Hellman is that," said Tom Baer, Mountain View High School principal. "Bright and spirited, she is a star among stars."
Hellman, who teaches U.S. history and a U.S. history honors class as well as a class for Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) at Mountain View High School, is one of only two teachers from Santa Clara County selected to compete in a statewide teacher of the year competition.
She was chosen by her peers as district teacher of the year and was selected with 25 others as county teacher of the year by the Santa Clara Office of Education. The county oversees the competition to recognize outstanding teachers and their contributions to education.
"Joy is more than deserving of this honor. Her first-rate intellect, boundless energy and devotion make her a beacon of good will," Baer said. "She's particularly inspiring to new teachers and is highly admired - both by other instructors and students - at the school."
Her rapport with students stems from a faith in them, he continued. "She believes so much in the kids and their full potential that they can believe in themselves."
In addition to history and AVID classes, Hellman has taught civics, economics and English as a Second Language (ESL). In her more than 18 years at Mountain View High School, she has also served as school improvement program and W.A.S.C. site coordinator, academic decathlon coach and advisor to several clubs on campus. She currently is the AVID coordinator for the school.
"Her specialty is U.S. history, but her gift is helping to create a fire for learning in students and helping them achieve more that they thought they were able," said Steve Hope, assistant superintendent for personnel and technology and former Mountain View High School principal.
"Every moment she spends with students is a teaching moment, not just within the subject matter, but who they are, what they can be and why they should reach higher." She is a role model because she inspires the best, not only in students, but in adults as well, he said.
State teacher of the year will be named in May. For more information, call the district at 940-4650.
Rostyne writes for Jean Newton Public Relations, a consultant for the school district.