State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2024 California Teachers of the Year

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today named five exceptional educators as the 2024 California Teachers of the Year. These educators are ambassadors for the profession and serve as representatives of the state for the calendar year. Thurmond said he is pleased to recognize the five outstanding teachers, who have had a tremendous impact in their schools and on their students and communities.

“Congratulations to these five remarkable educators, who all display deep commitment and innovation in their work—all while supporting their students through a difficult time,” said Thurmond. “They make profound differences in their students’ lives and provide both inspiration and the practical tools that students need to succeed. They’re all prime examples of the exceptional work going on in California schools.”

Presented by the California Department of Education (CDE) and supported by the California Teachers of the Year Foundation, the California Teachers of the Year Program began in 1972 to honor outstanding teachers and encourage and inspire new teachers to enter the profession.

Below are the 2024 California Teachers of the Year as well as the five 2024 California Teachers of the Year finalists who will be recognized by the CDE. The finalists represent their counties and will serve as County Teachers of the Year.

2024 California Teachers of the Year

Casey Cuny is a high school honors English and Senior Myth and Folklore teacher at Valencia High School in the William S. Hart Union High School District (Los Angeles County).

Thurmond nominated Cuny as California’s representative for the National Teacher of the Year competition. Cuny will compete against other state nominees, and the 2024 National Teacher of the Year will be announced in the spring.

Joseph Alvarico is a high school Engineering Essentials, Introduction to Engineering Design, and honors computer teacher at Ygnacio Valley High School in the Mount Diablo Unified School District (Contra Costa County).

Andrew Lewis is a high school music teacher at Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts in the Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles County).

Hannah Rodriguez is a prekindergarten special education teacher at Beardslee Dual Language Immersion Academy in the Duarte Unified School District (Los Angeles County).

Gregory Wolf is a high school dual-enrollment U.S. History, dual-enrollment political science, and Advanced Placement psychology teacher at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District (Santa Barbara County).

2024 California Teachers of the Year Finalists

Kelly Eichmann is a high school Career Technical Education/Regional Occupational Center Patient Care Pathway: Medical Careers and Health and Medical Wellness teacher at Clovis East High School in the Clovis Unified School District (Fresno County).

Alanna Grimaldi is a sixth-grade science teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School in the Burbank Unified School District (Los Angeles County).

Alison Meloserdoff is an interventionist at Wild Rose School of Creative Arts in the Monrovia Unified School District (Los Angeles County).

Kelly Miller is a high school agriculture science, social science, and fine art teacher at Arcata High School in the Northern Humboldt Union High School District (Humboldt County).

Kirsten Neill is a fifth-grade multiple subject teacher in the Downey Unified School District (Los Angeles County).

County offices of education nominate California Teachers of the Year applicants through county-level competitions. CDE selection committees review applications; evaluate teachers’ rapport with students and their classroom environments, presentation skills, and teaching techniques; and interview the teachers. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction then selects five California Teachers of the Year and the National Teacher of the Year nominee.

For more information on the award program, please visit the CDE California Teachers of the Year web page. Visit the Teach California website for more information on becoming a teacher.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100