Developing the Scholar and Citizen

Washington, DC, January 12, 2010— TMC alum Kelly Kovacic has been chosen as one of four finalists to receive the nation’s top teaching honor, National Teacher of the Year, according to Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Kovacic is an eleventh and twelfth grade social studies teacher at The Preuss School USCD.

In her National Teacher of the Year application Kovacic stated, "At my school I have seen the power of a functioning educational system that can transform a student from one who has all but given up to one whose passion to learn is ignited and whose future is reclaimed. We have the power as teachers, administrators, parents and community members to make that difference, but must model what we ask of students through the efforts we exert, funding we support, academic rigor we instill and the standards we fulfill.”

Recognition by President Barack Obama of the national honoree and the state representatives is tentatively scheduled to take place during the week of
April 26–30, 2010. More ... pdf

TMC mentors, interns and tutors volunteer at the Gompers Preparatory Academy, which is featured in the San Diego Reader's December 2009 Cover Story, Gompers Takes a Bow.

Test scores are up. Violence is down. Teachers are being retained. Inner-city students are taking college preparatory courses.

"One of the biggest factors in changing the culture of the school has been having adults on hand and around the kids at all times," says Gompers’ teacher and director of development Kathryn Strom. More...

Please know that the most effective prevention practice to avoid getting the flu requires cough and hand hygiene: covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, frequent hand washing, and use of hand sanitizers. To learn more about the University’s flu prevention efforts and to monitor our planning and procedures, visit http://www.ucsd.edu/flu/.