Marina Del Rey Educator Honored as Teacher of the Year

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA — A Marina Del Rey teacher was among seven Los Angeles Unified School District educators who were honored last week as Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year.

Bootsie Battle-Holt, a mathematics teacher at Marina Del Rey Middle School, who has been teaching for 10 years, was among the 16 educators in the county honored at a ceremony in Universal City.

"These educators are heroes who not only inspire our students to achieve excellence, but instill in them a lifelong love of learning," said LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King, who began her career as a science teacher. "I congratulate these outstanding teachers and thank them for the difference they make in the lives of our students every day."

Besides Battle-Holt, the L.A. County Teachers of the Year from LAUSD are:

• Marcella Deboer, an English teacher at Cesar Chavez Learning Academy and 17-year education veteran;
• Natalie Elliott, who teaches fifth grade at 92nd Street Elementary School and has been an educator for 10 years;
• Shannon Garrison, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Solano Avenue Elementary School who has been teaching 19 years;
• Tricia Kalma, a fifth-grade teacher at Porter Ranch Community School, who has been teaching for 11 years;
• Isela Lieber, an English teacher at James Monroe High School who has been teaching for 10 years; and
• Matthew Waynee, a cinematic arts teacher at LAUSD/USC Cinematic Arts and Engineering Magnet, who has been teaching for 20 years.

Five statewide co-winners will be announced in October, and one will be selected to represent California in the National Teacher of the Year competition in the spring.

— City News Service contributed to this report. Photo courtesy of LACOE.