Teacher of the Month: February- Pauline Gilmour, Our Lady of the Assumption School

February's Teacher of the Month is Pauline Gilmour, who also happens to be the . Former honorary mayor Peter Tateishi introduced Gilmour, his successor, at a Carmichael Chamber of Commerce dinner in January. She said she ran for the position to inspire her students to take a more active role in the greater community.

Name: Pauline Gilmour

Occupation: Teaches homeroom and religion for 7th graders and math and history for 7th and 8th graders at .

Years At School: 35 years

Education: Bachelor's degree in French and general humanities from Santa Clara University and teaching credential from San Jose State University.

Personal: Married to husband Dan and has three sons- Scott, 30, Tim and John, both 27, all are graduates.

Awards: Was recognized by a school employees credit union

What she likes about teaching:

“In my teaching, kids have to have discoveries themselves. I teach for the moment. I've had them write letters to the OLA school in New Zealand (where at least 75 people have been confirmed dead after Tuesday's magnitude-6.3 earthquake). It's important they learn global awareness. I intend to make these kids peacemakers. With 8th-grade civics, I want to make kids interested in government... and become voting citizens when they turn 18. It was my students who decided I would run for honorary mayor. I had a publicity group that contacted the local media, a workforce group and a fundraising group. We raised about $2,300. They had parish bake sales and put jars in local restauarants and businesses.”

What she does to make learning fun:

“A teacher has to be a stand-up comic for kids. You need to keep their attention... I talk about what they're interested in- Justin Bieber, 'Twilight'. It keeps me young.”

What influenced her to become a teacher?

“The children's excitement is infectious."

Community Involvement: 

Honorary mayor of Carmichael, OLA students started a community garden to grow vegetables for the (Society of) St.Vincent de Paul's food closet, member of the Sacramento-Bethlehem sister cities partnership, students have sent peace cranes to Hiroshima residents through the Japanese Cultural League

 What she likes most about Carmichael:

“I was born and raised in Oakland. I didn't know what a suburb was. When you have a smaller community, you go to the store or the bank and people know you and your kids. The small, close-knit community (in Carmichael) is what I enjoy.”

What others say about her:

“Mrs. Gilmour embodies what the Catholic educator is. She not only teaches the subject matter but also the principles of the Catholic faith and builds in her students civic pride.” - Robert Love, principal, OLA

"She gets us really involved with everything in the classroom. We helped run her campaign (for honorary mayor of Carmichael)." -Austen Sandoval, 14

"We get to learn by experience, not just by textbooks." -Alyse Andre, 13

"She's a really good teacher. She thinks about other fun ways to teach us." - Charlie Lawver, 13

"She has us do different projects. We were able to go to the Asian Art Museum on a field trip." - Miranda Reyes, 13