Hammond Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year 2021-2022

Lake Los Angeles – Vista San Gabriel School – Joan announced on Facebook; “I want to take this opportunity to thank some of the people who convinced me to go to school to become a teacher. You gave me the courage to take the risk and find out I could be successful at one of the most important jobs there is. After 21 years and much prayer and encouragement by family and cherished colleagues, I am moving on to a new chapter in my educational journey. As of this afternoon, I have been named the Assistant Principal at Vista San Gabriel Elementary School. I am honored, humbled and excited to continue with my Wilsona family.”

Joan has been with the District since 1986 when she served as a volunteer. In 1990 she was Volunteer of the Year earning her Golden Apple. In 1993 she was hired as a noon duty aide and then in 1994 she was hired as an instructional assistant at Challenger Middle School. This is where she was encouraged to become a teacher and started school at Antelope Valley College. She transferred to Cal State Bakersfield in 2000 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts in 2002. She cleared her credentials in 2002 and was hired as an intern in the same year.

During these years she also volunteered for the Littlerock High School band and color guard in the Music Performance Program where she was chosen Volunteer of the Year in 2004 and 2017. Joan stated, “Even with Covid we kept this program going on Zoom. The band and guard can perform outdoors. The program will continue. In the spring we hope some of the mandates will be lifted. We are looking at masks that have an opening for a mouthpiece if necessary.”

Joan continued her education as she earned her Masters of Education – Educational Administration at Grand Canyon University. Joan said in 2022, “My goal is to become a principal. During Covid I was asked to be the admin designee. As I was doing that it was the same thing: the encouragement from my colleagues – ‘You could be a principal someday’ encouragement.”

By Shirley Harriman