Orinda and Brentwood educators named 2026-27 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year
Reported byLamorinda Weekly
Read the full story at Lamorinda WeeklyAI-assisted summary
The Contra Costa County Office of Education has chosen two local teachers as its county Teachers of the Year for 2026-27. Stephanie Sado works with struggling readers in the Orinda Union School District. Rebecca St. Michel teaches fifth grade at Brentwood Elementary School in the Brentwood Union School District. They were honored on Sept. 17 at the county's 54th annual celebration, held at the Hilton Concord. As county winners, both move on to the California State Teachers of the Year competition.
The article says Sado has taught for 12 years and focuses on helping children build reading skills and enjoy reading. She draws on her own difficulties with reading as a child and favors early support. She has led professional development, helped create districtwide literacy systems, and helped build a K-5 reading intervention program used in the district's elementary schools.
St. Michel has spent more than 27 years in the classroom, all at Brentwood Elementary, and teaching runs through four generations of her family. Four finalists were considered. The other two were Evette Evers-Threatt, of a Pittsburg Unified junior high, and Julee Henderson, of Acalanes High School. The county office coordinates the program each year.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights teachers whose work, including early reading intervention, is being singled out at the county level. Families and board members can see which instructional approaches and career paths are being honored, and the two winners now compete statewide.
- Awards and recognition
- Literacy
Written with AI from the publisher's article and may contain errors. The original reporting is the authoritative source.
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- How can districts share the practices of award-winning teachers, such as early reading intervention, with other schools?
- What kinds of recognition or support help schools keep experienced teachers in the classroom for many years?
- How should a district weigh classroom experience against program leadership when it honors educators?
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