Searles Elementary Teacher to be Honored by 49ers

Searles Elementary School teacher Annette Iwamoto has received a number of awards and honors throughout her 34 years in New Haven, but none like the one she’ll receive this weekend.

On Sunday, Iwamomoto, 56, will be honored during the San Francisco 49ers’ game against the Miami Dolphins as one of the Bay Area team’s Heroes in the Classroom.

“Being a huge, longtime 49ers fan, it was just so thrilling to have this award to honor my years of teaching come from a team I love so much,” Iwamoto told Union City Patch.

Sponsored by Symetra, Heroes in the Classroom highlights 16 Bay Area teachers throughout the 49ers’ season who make a difference through education. Teachers can be nominated by students, parents or co-workers.

Iwamoto alternates between teaching fourth and fifth grade at Searles, often teaching the same students two years in a row, she said.

She was nominated by the Dutra family, whose two sons were her students.

“To know parents appreciate what we do every day in the classrooms is really heartwarming because that’s who we do it for — the kids and their families,” Iwamoto said.

According to the Heroes in the Classroom website, Iwamoto received the honor because of her unique, personalized approach to teaching:

Annette Iwamoto has two goals for her students. The first is that each and every one be as successful as they can be. She differentiates instruction for all of her students allowing them to learn at their pace. The second is to develop great students who are also great people. She stresses respect and responsibility in her classroom, for each other, the community and the earth.

Iwamoto, who’s favorite 49er is Jerry Rice, was presented with the award during a school rally last week where she was greeted by a representative from the 49ers, two Gold Rush cheerleaders and representatives from Symetra.

She received a $250 gift card to Office Max and Searles Elementary School received $1,000 from Wells Fargo as part of the award.

Iwamoto also received two tickets to Sunday’s game, two on-field passes, a football autographed by Aldon Smith and a 49ers jersey with her name on it.

The San Francisco 49ers play the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park at 1 p.m. Sunday. The game will air on CBS, according to the 49ers website.

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