“I am so proud to represent the Hart District and especially La Mesa Junior High as an LA County Teacher of the Year,” said Ms. Turski the Science Department Chair at La Mesa. “I hope my selection will bring attention to our incredible staff and expose the awesome things we do to support our students and help all of them succeed.”
This accomplishment marks the third year in a row, and fourth in the last six years, the Hart District has had a County Teacher of the Year. Ms. Turski was chosen by NASA and the SETI Institute to be one of three Hart District teachers to fly later this year with scientists on board SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.
“During this time of extraordinary challenges to our school communities, it is especially important that we pay tribute to our outstanding teachers who, over the past year-and-a-half of this pandemic, have been bringing care, compassion and ingenuity to both their virtual and in-person classrooms,” said Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo, MSW, Ed.D. “I am truly impressed by their innovative practices and the partnerships they have created to keep students learning and thriving,”
Turski was one of 56 teachers honored at the 40th Annual Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year luncheon held in Universal City. Those 56 were chosen from a pool of nearly 72,000 teachers countywide. Five co-winners will be chosen state teachers of the year, with one of those going on to represent California in the national Teacher of the Year competition. Last year, Saugus High School Teacher of the Year Jim Klipfel was chosen by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to represent California in the national competition.