Nominations for the award are open to elementary, middle, and highs school principals, teachers, and students located in the Contra Costa County and Alameda County. Nominations for principals must be made by a teacher and/or school administrator. Nominations for teachers must be made by a principal or school administrator. Nominations for a student must be made by a principal, teacher, and/or school administrator. All nominations must have the name of the principal for that school to verify nominees.
Luciano Caldera – Teacher – Helms Middle School
Luciano Caldera is a veteran teacher who continues to support student academic growth every year. He is well known for his ability to connect students with the history they are learning. He has amazing relationships with students and families. He is often the one teacher that students feel like they can go to when they have a problem. In middle school, this type of teacher is essential. Students need to feel supported and cared for more than ever during this time. He is also a source of support for teachers. He is often helping them repair their relationships with students and giving them ideas about how to get the student motivated in their class.
Landon Griffin – Student – Discovery Bay Elementary
Landon Griffin, is a seven year old first grade student at Discovery Bay Elementary. He is currently at the top of his class in both mathematics, and the accelerated readers program. He is also involved in year round baseball for Brentwood Pony. As the only switch hitter in his age group he has been able to excel in his baseball program. He is dedicated to assisting his father with coaching his younger sister in baseball and is her biggest fan. He is a huge fan of both the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics. His Favorite Players are Derek Carr, and CoCo Crisp. Landon believes that hard work pays off in scholastics and sports. His Parents Travis and Laura could not be more proud of him!
Maria Motonaga – Teacher – Lincoln Elementary
Maria is in her 3rd year teaching at Lincoln Elementary in Oakland. She has proven her commitment to serving youth through her 9 years of educating children in both school and after-school program settings. At Lincoln, Maria works with a diverse community of students and families. She strives to integrate as much technology into her classroom as possible. She most recently created a project that successfully funded 2 brand new iPad Minis for her class, which are being used to motivate and engage her 1st graders in literacy. She has also received recognition as a CRS Science Super Star for promoting science in the classroom through numerous reading, writing, and hands-on activities. Her favorite part about teaching is helping her students transform into readers, and watching them grow into successful young adults over the years.
Robby Rowell – Student – Acalanes High School
Robby Rowell is a 9th grader at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA. The quarterback for the freshman football team, he also plans on playing on the high school basketball and baseball teams and last summer, he was a county finalist swimmer in two individual events and on two relay teams. He completed middle school with a 4.0 GPA, receiving department awards in both English and Science, and he participated on the school's Science Bowl competition team. He also was recently accepted into the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program. On weekends, he enjoys refereeing/umpiring 12U football and baseball games.
Kennan Scott – Teacher – West Oakland Middle School
Kennan Scott is in his first year of teaching engineering at West Oakland Middle School. He brings with him a robust engineering portfolio of transit projects with BART and MUNI. In his ten plus years as a transit engineer and planner he worked on projects ranging from bike paths for migrant workers in San Ramon to large scale public transit extensions that improve access for low income residents. As a Project Lead the Way certified teacher he brings with him an engaging, hands-on curriculum built on the design process and robotics. Kennan is an extremely dedicated teacher who works countless hours including weekends to ensure students are successful in engineering and problem solving. The West Oakland Family is lucky to have a young energetic teacher who is truly loved and appreciated by the students and the staff.
