Riverside County Office of Education
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EVENT DETAILSRCOE's Early Education Services is working with educators across the county to ensure a strong, early start for all students.
UPK SUPPORT
| Every student in Riverside County will graduate from high school academically and socially prepared for college, the workforce, and civic responsibility. |
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Educators
Begin your journey of developing a sustainable creative practice to release stress, increase empathy, and encourage kindness to yourself as you learn to create Paper Collages. This art project will pay special attention to the music, feelings of the participant, color choices and cutting techniques to design your collage.
Elementary Music Teacher Beth Schwandt Named First 2023 Riverside County Teacher of the Year in Surprise Visit
Music teacher in the Alvord Unified School District is first of four 2023 Riverside County Teachers of the Year
RIVERSIDE – It was the last day of the 2021-2022 school year for students at Lake Hills Elementary School in the Alvord Unified School District, and music teacher Beth Schwandt was in the process of packing up instruments and deconstructing her classroom in preparation for moving to a new location for next year. All of a sudden, an entourage of students, colleagues, board members, and Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, descended on her classroom to surprise her with the news that she has been named the first 2023 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.
“Her path was not direct, but after years of incorporating one period of choir while teaching computer literacy or language arts, Mrs. Schwandt finally became a full-time music teacher, and she is now a 2023 Riverside County Teacher of the Year,” said Dr. Edwin Gomez, who also shared comments from colleagues, parents, and students gathered as part of the selection process.
Mrs. Schwandt will represent Riverside County in the 2023 California State Teacher of the Year competition later this year. Three more Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be revealed in upcoming surprise visits.
“I am blessed to have been a part of Alvord Unified School District since I was a student here in 1974. My kids have attended, and my grandkids are currently attending these schools, and I have loved being part of the fabric of Riverside and sharing life together with my students,” Mrs. Schwandt said after receiving her award. “I can see how music is restoring these kids and their resiliency. Music is the answer—it is the key to the souls of our children.”
About Beth Schwandt
From Beethoven to Queen, and Sister Sledge to the latest TikTok music sensation, Beth Schwandt has been introducing the power of music to students as a teacher for 30 years. Ms. Schwandt did not become a full-time music teacher until the age of 53, but has positively influenced the academic and personal development of thousands of students through music for decades.
She describes her music class as “an all-encompassing curriculum that embraces literacy, multi-cultural diversity, ethnic studies, social justice, English language development, social/emotional therapy, and behavioral intervention.” She regularly organizes field trips to professional concerts and theater performances, while seeking opportunities for her students to take the stage for performances throughout the region.
Ms. Schwandt has held multiple positions at schools in Alvord Unified School District, and currently serves as an elementary music teacher at Lake Hills Elementary School. She is a member of the Riverside Arts Academy Community Board and the Cal Baptist University School of Education Executive Board.
2023 Riverside County Teacher of the Year Announcements
5/26/2022 - Dual Language Immersion History Teacher Anthony Gomez Named Second 2023 Riverside County Teacher of the Year
5/27/2022 - Autumn Khong Lundblad of Beaumont USD Named Third 2023 Riverside County Teacher of the Year
Once named, all four teachers of the year will represent Riverside County in the 2023 California Teacher of the Year competition where at least one Riverside County teacher has been selected as a California Teacher of the Year in eight of the last nine years:
- 2022 – Nichi Aviña, Cielo Vista Charter School, Palm Springs USD
- 2021 – Keisa Brown, University Heights Middle School, Riverside USD, and Allison Cyr, Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School, Desert Sands USD
- 2020 – Brenda Chavez-Barreras, Good Hope Elementary School, Perris ESD
- 2019 – Dr. Angel Mejico, El Cerrito Middle School, Corona-Norco USD
- 2018 – Dr. Brian McDaniel, Painted Hills Middle School, Palm Springs USD
- 2017 – Shaun Bunn, Ethan A. Chase Middle School, Romoland School District
- 2016 – Michelle Cherland, Carrillo Ranch Elementary School, Desert Sands USD
- 2014 – Jessica Pack, James Workman Middle School, Palm Springs USD
The Riverside County Teachers of the Year are selected from nearly 20,000 educators in the county. The rigorous application process requires candidates to spend time reflecting on, and carefully defining, their teaching philosophy. The county teachers of the year are selected on the basis of nominations by teachers, principals, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where a selection committee reviews the applications on each district candidate and selects semi-finalists. The selection committee then conducts interviews and site visits to select the final four candidates before the county superintendent announces the Riverside County Teachers of the Year.