Shown from left: Romi Kim, TI Partnership Development consultant; Tom Torlakson, superintendent of Public Instruction; and Joan Scott, TI's director of Community Relations.

TI helped recognize the state of California's most innovative and inspirational educators recently at the 2013 California Teacher of the Year Gala in Sacramento.

The event was coordinated with the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. TI sponsors the event and provides $1,000 cash awards to the five California Teachers of the Year. The company also provided TI-Nspire CX Teacher Packs to each of the winners and finalists.

The teachers were thrilled with the recognition, check and technology from TI, said Steven Bailey and Romi Kim, who represented TI's Education Technology Division at the event.

"I was warned to bring tissue, but I had no idea just how truly inspirational the teachers' stories would be. I already have next year's event on my calendar," Bailey said.

Kim was impressed with the caliber of teachers, as well. "These teachers are truly role models for all of us to aspire to in our daily lives, and I commend them for the hard work and dedication they infuse into the classroom," she said.

Rigorous selection process
Every year, the California Department of Education conducts a rigorous process, including a written application, a classroom visit and an interview with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to select the top kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in the state.

A selection committee of administrators, representatives from professional organizations and teachers make the final decision, selecting the five California Teachers of the Year and 10 finalists and semi-finalists.

Each year, one of the five winners is selected to represent California in the competition for the National Teacher of the Year award. President Barack Obama named Rebecca Mieliwocki, a 7th-grade English teacher from Burbank, Calif., the 2012 U.S. Teacher of the Year last March. Mieliwocki has been traveling over the past 10 months to share best practices and learn from teachers worldwide.

Learn more about the 2013 California Teacher of the Year Program.