Get to Know: San Diego County Teachers of the Year

The county named its best of the best in education over the weekend during the 38th annual San Diego County Teacher of the Year Awards.

The five winners—picked from a total field of more than 40 chosen as district teachers of the year, and a narrowed pool of 10 finalists—come from all across the county: Escondido, La Mesa, Chula Vista and San Diego.

Though none of the Poway Unified School District's three Teachers of the Year was chosen for the county award this time, Willow Grove Elementary School's Julie Harris was one of the 10 finalists. Last year, PUSD Teacher of the Year Shaylene Watkins was one of the county winners.

The five county winners will go on to the state competition, which has been won by San Diego County teachers for the past three years. The state winner heads to the national competition.

Check out the photo gallery for pictures and a little bit about each of the five winners:

• Mark Alcorn, Robert E. Lee Elementary (San Diego)
• Mark Burroughs: San Pasqual Union School, Escondido. (See this Feb. 22 profile about Burroughs in the North County Times)
• Alicia McBride: Reflections School (La Mesa)
• Jo-Ann Fox, Reidy Creek School (Escondido)
• Yolanda Sherard, Rancho del Rey Middle School (Chula Vista)

Patch Profiles of the PUSD Teachers of the Year: