Patch Celebrates Local Educators

From instilling a love for learning in youngsters to inspiring high school teens, Patch applauds some of the educators who are making a difference in South Bay schools:

Patricia Escalante, Hermosa Valley School

Escalante joined the this school year as the new principal, and has already made a positive impact on students.

Making herself accessible to the student body, "she comes out at recess almost every day," wrote sixth-grade student Keeli Hartley in the new blog on Hermosa Beach Patch.

Escalante also emphasized maintaining that same "open and honest" interaction with parents in a letter to parents and students following .

Escalante was once a Hermosa Valley parent herself, as her two sons attended the school and graduated from Mira Costa High School.

Jeffrey Rosadini, Redondo Union High School

Rosadini, who teaches Algebra at Redondo Union High School, has been involved in the Safe School Ambassadors program and takes time to tutors students during lunch, according to his teacher’s page on the RUHS website.

"[Rosadini] has always shown respect towards my son," parent Leticia Moreno told sister site during Teacher Appreciation Week in May. She added that the teacher "has always been there" to listen and help her son "in any way he can."

Linda Okumura, Pacific Elementary School

The Los Angeles County Office of Education on Sept. 23 honored Okumura, a first-grade teacher at Pacific Elementary in neighboring Manhattan Beach, as one of the "best of the best" educators in K-12 schools.

Okumura, who has been a teacher for 29 years, serves as a role model for other local teachers. Former , "Okumura inspires students and colleagues alike to set high expectations, work purposefully, and engage and explore topics of personal relevance."

Hassan Twiet, Peninsula High School

Twiet has devoted his time at Peninsula High School to teaching students about technology, engineering and computer science.

"The students report that he makes learning fun and he is easy to work with. In a world that desperately needs engineers, Hassan Twiet is doing a magnificent job securing our future," Peninsula High School Principal Mitzi Cress told sister site during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.

Cress said that students under Twiet’s guidance have built robots, designed buildings and constructed solar boats.

Is there a local teacher you would like to applaud?