Terri Edinburgh Named SCOE 2013 Teacher of the Year
Instructor Works With Students with Disabilities
Sacramento County Office of Education / Sacramento County Office of Education News / Terri Edinburgh Named SCOE 2013 Teacher of the Year
Superintendent David W. Gordon surprises Terri Edinburgh in her classroom with balloons, announcing she has been selected as SCOE's Teacher of the Year 2013.
Special Education teacher Terri Edinburgh is not accustomed to having many adults in her classroom. However, on May 8, her room was filled with administrators and colleagues bearing balloons, flowers—and good news. They informed Terri that she has been selected as the 2013 Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Teacher of the Year.
Edinburgh, a resident of Rancho Murieta, teaches students with moderate to severe disabilities in a Kindergarten–3rd Grade combination special day class at Prairie West elementary School, located in the Elk Grove Unified School District.
Edinburgh said she wanted to be a Special Education teacher after having the opportunity to tutor a first grader with disabilities many years ago.
"It was the look in her eye, a look that begged for more, a look that said, 'If you would only give me a chance,'" said Ms. Edinburgh. "That experience was the kindling that stirred a fire in me to pursue Special Education."
Edinburgh has been a SCOE employee since November 1996. Prior to joining SCOE, she worked six years as a Para-Educator in a Special Day Class at Valley Oaks Elementary School (Galt Joint Union Elementary School District). She earned her B.S. in Recreation/Rehabilitation from Sacramento State University and her M.A. in Special Education from National University in 2011.
Joining County Superintendent David W. Gordon in making the announcement were Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robin Pierson, and Special Education Principal Carmen Walker.
"Terri believes in her students' potential to be successful and is an awesome advocate and motivator for both her students and their families," said Principal Walker. "Our students are truly fortunate to have such a caring, compassionate, and collaborative teacher supporting them."
Edinburgh will be honored, along with teachers representing other Sacramento County school districts, at the annual Teachers of the Year Awards banquet, which will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at the Woodlake Hotel.
The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year Program is presented by SCOE in partnership with Maloof Sports and Entertainment, the Sacramento River Cats, U.S. Bank, the Intel Corporation Folsom, and the Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry.
Principal Carmen Walker, Assistant Superintendent Robin Pierson, SCOE's 2013 Teacher of the Year Terri Edinburgh, and Superintendent David W. Gordon.