Dozens of teachers, other school employees honored at awards dinner

They are considered the best of the best, the creme de la creme of teachers and other school district employees in Kern County. And they were honored Tuesday evening at the first-ever Kern County Education Champions of the Year awards dinner held at Hodel’s in northwest Bakersfield.

Hosted by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and sponsored by Valley Strong Credit Union, this was the first time KCSOS has honored classified and certificated employees of the year at the same gathering.

“Because the success and well-being of our students is dependent on everyone within the educational system, we felt it was time to merge our efforts, honoring classified and certificated employees together in the same event,” said Malaika Bryant, KCSOS’s director of educator development.

During the ceremony, 59 teachers from across Kern County were recognized for being named Teacher of the Year at their respective school districts.

Then, later in the evening, the honored 59 were narrowed down to the extraordinary three.

It wasn’t easy, Bryant told the 300 or so packed into Hodel’s Liberty Hall.

“The applications we received made our job really hard,” she said.

First they were vetted by the selection committee, whose members screened multiple nomination documents and performed site visits. After agonizing over the difficult choices, the committee decided on three names: Stephanie Holladay, Cattrice Toles and Charles Wallis, who somehow rose to the top to be named Kern County Teacher of the Year finalists.

The honor means the trio can now apply for the chance to be chosen as California Teacher of the Year.

Holladay, an 11-year veteran educator who currently teaches transitional kindergarten at Chavez Elementary School in the Bakersfield City School District, stood out for fostering a safe and warm environment within “The Hive,” her name for her classroom. According to her nomination form, Holladay “has transformed the traditional classroom into a family atmosphere, likening her students to a busy hive of bees. Upon entering, visitors are greeted with a chorus of welcoming voices, as the students proudly declare, ‘Welcome to our hive.’”

Toles, a sixth- through eighth-grade restorative classroom teacher at BCSD’s Rafer Johnson Community Day School, began her career as a classroom aide before becoming a certificated teacher. Described in her nomination as creative and innovative, Toles taught her students video production, placing them in charge of creating a morning announcement video for the school each day, which included “taping, editing, sound and production,” her nomination said.

“A great example of Cattrice building relationships is her ability to connect with students on their platforms at a level that encourages collaboration and trust. These relationships are more incredible when you factor in that most of her students are with her for no more than one semester. When students leave Ms. Toles' class and return to a general education setting, she schedules school visits to check in with students to continue to build that supportive relationship.”

Wallis was a captain in the U.S. Army before becoming a Cadet Corps instructor at Rosamond High Early College Campus in the Southern Kern Unified School District. He is characterized by his students as “trusting, kind, selfless, inspiring, very wise, adaptive, motivating, proud of his students, patient” and more, according to his nomination.

Wallis was instrumental in bringing Cadet Corps to RHECC in 2019, the nomination stated. “He met with the Cadet Corps to further learn of the program and how this opportunity could be brought to RHECC.”

Cadets focus on a variety of activities and Wallis takes part as well, including wreath laying, attending Veterans Day ceremonies and other community events, and even meeting with veterans at the veterans' home in nearby Lancaster.

Eight Classified Employees of the Year were also recognized Tuesday evening, including Alan Button and Tony Cervantes from KCSOS; Maria Vilchis De Bruno, Sherry Gonzalez and Martha Garcia from the Lamont Elementary School District; Nora Cortez from South High School in the Kern High School District; Tami Weslow from Cato Middle School in BCSD; and Rita Banks from Delano High School in the Delano Joint Union High School District.

Teachers of the Year finalists and Classified Employees of the Year honorees were each awarded a $500 cash prize.

“Kudos to all of you,” Kern County Superintendent of Schools John G. Mendiburu said to all the honorees. “You are true champions in education.”