County Honors Los Gatos Teachers

Los Gatos teachers Fran Mastroianni, Sharon Smith and Linda Babcock will be honored for their dedication to students, classroom skill and commitment to lifelong learning during the Santa Clara County Office of Education's 42nd Teacher Recognition Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Heritage Theatre, 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell.

Mastroianni, a fourth-grade teacher at Blossom Hill Elementary School, was at a weekly faculty meeting when Principal Lisa Reynolds surprised her with the announcement that she had been selected as 2011 Teacher of the Year for the

Joe Bolin, a fellow fourth-grade teacher who wrote the nomination letter for Mastroianni, said, “Fran shows all the traits that make us proud to be teachers. She is collegial, caring, professional, involved in the community, creative and passionate about student success.”

Bolin said that “Fran has a real empathy for those students who are most difficult to teach. Her involvement on a personal level makes a real difference in the lives of these children.”

Bolin added that in addition to being a wonderful teacher, Mastroianni is president of the Los Gatos Elementary Teachers Association and has put in countless hours this year working to ensure that teachers in Los Gatos get a voice in decisions made by the administration. She attends monthly school board meetings and meets frequently with administrators, he said.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Mastroianni moved to California in 1987. She has a degree in special education from Trenton State College, a California teaching credential from San Jose State University and a master's degree in education administration from Santa Clara University. She has also been a special education teacher and a substitute teacher. She's taught at Blossom Hill since 2001.

Mastroianni said she has special experiences every day while working with her “fabulous fourth-grade teammates” and with an “amazing and inspirational principal” at Blossom Hill.

She said that she knew she was making a difference when one of her former students went back to Blossom Hill to thank her for teaching him to stay organized and for challenging him with high expectations. “Being a part of the Los Gatos Elementary School District community is an honor," said Mastroianni.  

She was voted 2011 Teacher of the Year for the by the 93-member teaching staff at the schools.  Smith said she was “totally stunned when she found out” and “very excited to have been selected.” Smith was profiled in Los Gatos Patch when the honor was first announced in May.

In a press release issued in May, former Los Gatos High School District Superintendent Cary Matsuoka described Smith “as an educational warrior, passionate, dedicated and committed.” Furthermore, he said, “she works tirelessly on behalf of her students and colleagues and is respected and loved in return. Sharon is both a veteran and a pioneer, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience as she explores and implements new ideas, the embodiment of educator/lifelong learner.” 

Linda Babcock has recently retired from her duties as a full-time teacher at Loma Prieta Elementary School. Babcock was chosen as 2011 Teacher of the Year for the

Principal Corey Kidwell said, “[Linda] is a 'teacher's teacher.' She always puts kids first, spending long, unpaid hours working with kids on reading after school, developing amazingly creative arts integration activities, and quietly stepping up to make the school stronger, day after day. I think this is exemplified in the fact that she actually retired last year but is still showing up voluntarily to do everything from writing middle-school math grants to covering morning yard duty. Mrs. Babcock is on campus so much some parents think she changed her mind about retirement. 

The three Los Gatos educators are among 31 county teachers who will be celebrated during one of the oldest educational galas in the state recognizing educators.

Santa Clara County Superintendent Charles Weis and NBC Bay Area News anchor Jessica Aguirre will co-host the celebration, which will include a performance by the Miller Middle School Jazz Choir. Honorees will also enjoy fine cuisine, receive engraved awards and appear in video profiles. 

A special feature this year will be a video tribute to Pauline Lowe, who with her husband helped originate the annual event in 1970.