Bridgepoint Instructor Named Newark Unified's Teacher of the Year

From the Newark Unified School District

The Newark Unified School District named a Bridgepoint High School teacher, Ms. Corina Resendez Rojo, teacher of the year.  The Superintendent, Dr. Dave Marken, School Board President, Ms. Jan Crocker, the Newark Board of Education and Mr. Timothy Erwin, Assistant Superintendent personally delivered her award as Newark’s top educator in a ceremony at Bridgepoint High School where Ms. Rojo’s family was secretly in attendance to honor her with this surprise distinction.  

Ms. Rojo is noted as an innovative, creative teacher with boundless energy and an enthusiastic spirit that spreads through each student and each class from bell to bell.  Her phenomenal approach toward teaching and her unshakable faith in the potential of her students, led the Newark Board of Education to award her the prestigious Newark Teacher of the Year distiction.  

Ms. Rojo teaches high school economics, government and an elective – conflict management - at Bridgepoint (Continuation) High School.  She brings a unique blend of well planned, organized and engaging lessons that, together, make a delectable cognitive growth stew.  The Superintendent, Dr. Dave Marken says of Ms. Rojo; “her classes are truly remarkable.  Her student work is consistently at the highest quality.  Ms. Rojo works hard each and every day to teach kids how to write effectively in her social studies domain.  She consistently pushes herself and others to strive for excellence.”  

Ms. Rojo is also noted as an invaluable asset to the MacGregor Alternative Center’s learning community in so many ways outside her classroom.  In the role of at-risk specialist, Ms. Rojo immediately connects with kids and parents to help them overcome obstacles.  Some of these conversations are emotional, difficult and challenging and require the tact and diplomacy of not only an experienced educator but as someone who herself had to overcome adversity to achieve.  Ms. Rojo has a natural knack at choosing the right words – in either English or Spanish - to inspire, motivate and give hope to children that may have only known failure and despair.  Mr. Orput, her principal at Bridgepoint High School says; “I dream of one day enticing her out of her classroom in order for her to become a principal because of her natural leadership skills that would benefit a greater number of students.”  

One of the graduates that she has helped, Ms. Yamila Calvo, may have summed it up best when she said; “She is the best teacher out there.  She’s the best person ever.  She is always trying to help.”