Recently, a Marin teacher wrote in to shine a light on one of her colleagues, who was retiring.
“I have a great story for you!” wrote Janet Pollack, a teacher at Neil Cummins School in Corte Madera about her fellow teacher Liza Mathews.
Pollack wrote about Mathews as, “an outspoken advocate for the environment,” who retired after 31 years of teaching. Mathews created green programs for her school and engaged her community to recycle and reuse via assemblies, a student “Green Team,” art competitions and more.
The message made me think about my mom, one Mrs. Pinson of Hamilton TK–8 School. Every year she takes a group of 20+ kindergarteners and gets them reading, counting and raising their hands (usually) in nine months. I volunteered in her classroom once, for about four hours, before leaving in a daze. The work she does cannot be overstated.
Knowing that these two are not the only examples of exceptional teachers in the county, we asked our audience on Facebook about their favorite teachers. Here’s what you said:
“Oh, for sure Steve Coleman at Terra Linda High School! He’s the best history teacher, and he’s also a former attorney. I was in his inaugural Street Law class, as well. He’s the GOAT at TLHS.” —Leigh Walker
“Shana Stewart, first grade Edna Maguire [Elementary]. There are so many creative aspects to her classroom and it’s done with humor and mutual respect. Two words, she’s amazing.” —Justine Corey-Whitehead
“I can’t say enough about Elena Garton who teaches kindergarten at Tam Elementary. She is simply amazing — she is also a mother of Quads that just graduated highschool and started college this week… If anyone should be honored and applauded it is Elena.” —Kristen Kotik
“Woop woop!! I love Ms. Winkler! [Kathy Winkler]” —Olivia Kane
“My mom, Michelle Robertson, teaches kindergarten at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Novato and is notoriously passionate with a true gift for teaching. We can never go anywhere — whether it be in town or on vacation — without running into someone she knows from school or has taught, and that loves her!” —Emma Robertson
Do you know a fabulous Marin teacher? Send us a message at [email protected] or on Facebook.
