San Leandro Teacher Named 2021 Alameda County Teacher Of The Year

SAN LEANDRO, CA — A San Leandro Unified School District teacher was one of three educators named Alameda County Teachers of the Year.

Erica Viray Santos has taught for 14 years at San Leandro High School, where she serves as the chair and coordinator of the Social Justice Academy. The three-year program draws more than 100 students annually and was "designed for students to realize their potential as agents of positive and transformative change," the Alameda County Office of Education said in a statement.

Viray Santos has also pushed for expanded wellness and mental health programming. She previously spent three years at James Logan High School in Union City, according to the county education office.

She was honored alongside Pleasanton teacher Josh Hill and Oakland teacher Jessica Jung.

"On behalf of everyone who works within the Alameda County educational system, I am thrilled that we had two state finalists and am honored to present our three County award winners. We are humbled by all of the district honorees who rose to the occasion in the past year," said Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L.K. Monroe in a statement. "More than 10,000 teachers in the county were able to pivot in these unique circumstances and quickly figure out the best ways to keep students engaged and learning in new ways. They exceeded in doing so beyond our expectations."

Fifteen other teachers will be recognized at the education office's 32nd Alameda County Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony.