Teacher of the Year

Like most English Language Development teachers, Dr. Jill VanNess’ proudest moment is watching her students walk across the stage at the Lodi High School graduation.

As the 2008-09 San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year, VanNess uses creative tactics to get her students there. Some of these include visiting colleges together or helping them register at San Joaquin Delta College for enrollment in the “second phase” of their lives.

In the past several years, Lodi High School’s English Learners (EL) have made massive gains on both the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and the end-of-year Content Standards Tests.

Bill Atterberry, principal at Lodi High, shared that this is in part due to VanNess’ ability to provide EL students with the support needed to become proficient.

“Jill possesses the uncanny ability to balance empathy with professional assertiveness, as well as to constantly explore creative opportunities to help her students succeed,” said Atterberry.

Atterberry recognizes the staff VanNess has built as the department head and their expectations for achievement. She’s given students, who were barely passing, the opportunity to leave Lodi High and become a college student.

As for VanNess, she feels that coming from a long line of educators, and being a foreign exchange student in Germany during her senior year of high school, helped her become an accomplished English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher.

“As a foreign exchange student, I learned what it was like to be a student in school and not know the language,” said VanNess. “At that point, I realized I loved interacting with other cultures and wanted to teach EL students.”

What matters most is that her students notice this passion. “Ms. VanNess is not only nice, but she understands where we have diffi culties and helps us learn how to overcome them,” said Alicia Lopez, sophomore at Lodi High School.

Each year San Joaquin County selects one Teacher of the Year from applicants throughout the area’s 14 school districts.