these people up here make their schools a fun place to go, where teachers, parents, students, and everybody comes together and actually enjoys being there with the same common mission of making all kids successful. we are blessed to today to be able to acknowledge the type of caliber of teacher that is here in san francisco. when you look at our test scores -- eight years in a row, the highest performing urban district in california. these are the people who make that happen. on behalf of our district, thank you. [applause] >> thank you, carlos. i want to share with everyone what our awardees will be receiving. we are overwhelmed by the the nation's everybody gave. everybody will get symphony tickets. you will also get academy of science tickets. you also get aquarium of the bay

tickets. you get a free pair of jeans from the gap. you will get a one country tour for two with gray line sightseeing, worth 200 callers -- $200. our principles will receive -- our principals will receive $700 from the mayor's office and $100 gift certificate from genevieve hotels. you'll get two tickets to the whale tour. you'll get two tickets to the rocket boat high-speed ride in the san francisco bay. teachers will get $500 from the mayor's office. [applause] i know there is a little bit of a discrepancy from what the principals are receding and

the teachers are receiving. the teachers are also getting tickets from virgin airlines wherever they fly in the united states. [applause] so this is a little game that we play. the mayor will come up. he is going to give you each your bag of goodies. we also have from tiffany's a beautiful crystal apple that is engraved. everybody that came into my office today saw the tip of the bag and instantly knew what it was. the tiffany symbol is a comic. you may not ever get a crystal tiffany anything. we have a beautiful award for you. in addition to that, what we do is the principals will get their awards and we have four extra prizes for each of you. they are all very different. there will either be for clubbable tickets to the giants

game, and overnight stay and dinner, an overnight stay and breakfast, or an ipad. when you are called up, you will receive your bag from the mayor and the superintendent. i will have for envelopes. you choose one, ok? the teachers -- we have a variety of other goodies which include a bike rental, muir woods, beach blanket babylon, tickets to the opera -- we had so many gifts. a special thank-you to the world community benefit district and pier 39. they solicited for us and got a lot of wonderful things. without further ado, the awards are named after somebody who has really care about public education, somebody who has stepped up to the plate, who has made public education a priority and makes it easy for me to work for him. i want to intduce our mayor of

san francisco, mayor gavin newsom. [applause] >> thank you, hydra. the guests get bigger and bigger every year, and more exciting. remember, last year we did this as kind of a pick and choose. some folks were left very happy. some were left wanting. that was not lost on us. we tried to have a stronger base line of gifts this year, which is appropriate because you deserve them. we are very grateful. that is the spirit that brings us together -- gratitude, the spirit that defines excellence. the work that you do continues l beyond your tenure and stewardship. you have an impact that endures, impact that becomes indelible, that manifest not only through the course of someone's

educational experience but well beyond in the course of their lives. like anything, the narrative of our lives is a narrative of impact, an impact in other people's lives, and it continues next-generation for kids that are here with us, kids that will be joining us in years to come. the impact is extraordinary and why i'm so pleased that you are here, why your colleagues are here, your friends and family are here, and that is why i'm so pleased that a number of years ago people came into my office and said it was about time we say thank you in a formal way. the country has been doing it for years. it goes back president to president to president. the governor's office has been doing it years and years. here in san francisco, we

realize up until 2006, the city never formally said thank you to our teachers, and then, we realize this and as we said thank you to our teachers, the next year, we said, what about the principles? we quickly rectified that in 2007. the challenge is that gets more challenging each and every year that we get so many good candidates that it gets harder and harder to make the final decision. what has happened in the past is that it has been made much easier. they give me 14, and i have just got to pick 10, so there's only four that i feel really guilty about. this year, we had two high

school principals. my point is they are starting to pass the buck a little bit, putting too much pressure on me because they do not want to make the tough choice because there are so many worthy and worthwhile candidates. i guess there may be recognized winners today, but there are no losers, either, so let me thank all of you, all the people that were nominated for your outstanding leadership and stewardship. let me thank all of those that were not nominated for their great work as well. just because you were not nominated this year does not mean you are not doing great work. it is just that we had to limit to this group of folks, and next year, the chances are you are going to be out here. all i can say is it has been challenging, obviously, for our teachers and friends of those. has been challenging for our parents, challenging for all of you in the city, but i much

prefer to be here facing these challenges in san francisco event, candidly, any other county in this state. at the end of the day, we step up and we step in. this is the city with strong partnerships, and we recognize we are all in this together. with a much better off if we put aside at the end of the day our differences and work more collaborative like to get it. this year, like so many previous years, we've demonstrated that. it is not easy. sometimes, you read the paper and believe it cannot be done, but nonetheless, at the end of the day, as was the case with our teachers' union and carlos and the school board, that in spite of all that, they came together, and i'm thankful and appreciative that they did that, and i'm thankful that the city will come together with a budget i will submit in a few weeks that will recognize our contributions to the rainy day reserve, though depleting, that will be there again and to

support ec's for our after- school programs, which will be even more robust next year than they were this year. the support we're getting preschool programs, arts school programs, while the centers, a sports school programs, library programs that we will continue to do our part to help support and birds those budget gaps being expanded and extended by the state cuts that we are facing, and of course, the national challenges that continue to dominate. it is in that spirit of recognition, but that spirit of reward that we are here, and it is in that spirit that i will ask hydra to come out and to begin the process of announcing this year's winners and then talking about them a little bit more, and we will hear from them.

why don't we start, then? >> we recognize what early childhood education means to us. we wanted to make sure that we recognize our site managers at our child development sites, so our first letter is raul chavez. he finds inspiration in the learning and billions of all our children. he says it we are comfortable, we're not doing enough, and if we are content, it is not enough. if you would please join us. [applause] >> she is going to start to get teary eyes.

last year's winner was a great mentor, and for that, i have to thank the board for naming this award after her. [applause] i think i have been lucky enough that she mentored me centered all of her decision making around our cities. she shared why she plan the way she planned and why she executed some of the decisions that she made, and in doing so, i was able to step up into the same system. but i cannot take that credit. it does not only belong to me. it belongs to our staff. it is to our family advocates and mentor consultants. it is to our families for stepping out and supporting us and working with us. it is only there that we are able to be successful in hopes that our children will be successful in the future.

i cannot take all that credit. that credit belongs to all of them. i have to thank my mother and father. [applause] for not being soft when i was growing up because, boy, they were not. [laughter] but here i am, and because of them, i am here. i also have to thank my wife because she puts all -- puts up with all of the professional development we have here, for all the began professional develop we have, and sometimes, is letting her know that we love her. thank you very much for inspiring me to be a better man. thank you. [applause] >> he's got the night stay at

the end with a breakfast included. our elementary school k-8, sarah drives home of the moon -- the feeling that sherman is a family, not a school during we are a community with expectations for our kids, and they must work hard to make sure our kids and teachers xl to the best of their abilities. the elementary. k-8 principal of the year -- the elementary school k-8 principal of the year. >> i feel so lucky. i'm surrounded today by my parents in my community, my school site council, by pta, teachers, and my family. what makes a great school as people who believe in the same values and principles, and i wanted my community for pushing everything that is different in

and allowing us to be celebrating here today, so thank you. [applause] >> thank you, sarah. she did not get the ipad, honey, but she did get the dinner getxc --dinner at xyz and hotel accommodation. our middle school sensible of the year is judy slump francisco middle school -- our middle school principal of the year is judy from francisco middle school. she brought have her school with her. she has inspired by her staff and students every day. if she more recently was inspired by one of our chinese citizen after being at the school for a week created a beautiful movie with beautifully drawn visuals, a perfect english with a strong and

confident voice. judy, congratulations. >> thank you all for being here. it is with deep appreciation that i look out and see members of my school community, my school family, really, my own family, my mom whether in a storm today to be here -- weathering the storm to be here. thank you, mom, for being here. thank you for being here and lot in my life. i wanted to just say that i feel a little uncomfortable accepting this award because, quite honestly, the best work that happens in a school happens when

a team. here we are. i see parents, volunteers, our wonderful staff, our faculty, and we work together as a team with good spirit everyday working hard, and i thank you for trusting me. i want to also thank my friends and colleagues. there are amazing people in the san francisco unified school district. they continue to generously give of their time so that i can do my work. people at 555 franklin, thank you. you do not get enough credit for the good work that you do. [applause] and thank you to my principal colleagues. we support each other because some days are pretty rough, and

other days are a great joy. so we are a team and we support each other very well. finally, thank you to my dear family who have helped me to know that laughing a little bit at yourself and not taking yourself too seriously is a good thing. i also want to say that they encourage me to take time for myself every now and then. i want to thank my husband who has put up with so many last- minute "sorry, i forgot to tell you are not coming home tonight. got to work." i want to say thank you, and i'm humbled by this award, and i really do appreciate every single one of my dear family. thank you. >> thank you, judy.

♪ got the ipad it is locked in my office, so i will have to bring it down for you. good thing it was sealed because my kids are trying to get at it, i tell you. this is a wonderful and delightful high school principal that i have had a pleasure of working with and has since worked really hard. bill from 11 sala burton high school. his vision is that we collectively build a school that is truly good enough for his own kids. he built amazing part digits and allows businesses in community based organizations into the school to help to be the backbone of the restructuring. our high school principal this year is mr. bill capenhagen.

[applause] >> so i wake up this morning, and it's like, you know, 5:45. my sinuses are killing me. my throat is a little bit foggy, and i push snooze during 50 minutes later, i like i need 7 more minutes. i finally look of the clock, it is 6:30 in the morning, and i think if i do not get out of bed right now, there is no way i could get to work early enough to excuse myself a 3:00 in order to be here to see you all. thank you all so much. thanks, mom and dad, who drove here from chicago, and all of the awesome high school people here. [applause] and lastly, i want to thank my burton people in the back who have come here to perform for

you all. >> you are going to your bills acquired towards the end, so thank you, bill -- you are going to tear bill's acquire -- hear bill's choir. our blue-ribbon panel has been instrumental in making sure this happens every year, and isis want to acknowledge jenny horn, rose mary jacobs, and i thank you, mary grace cohan, patricia gray, nancy, and suzanne, who helped us this year in choosing our fabulous teachers and principals. they deserve a round of applause. in addition to everything you are receiving, you are also getting certificates of honor from our major, from a single woman, senator, and supervisor

duufty, so all of your guests are in your back acknowledging the fabulous work you have done. when we started this program, we wanted to be able to a knowledge not just one teacher, but a teacher for everyone because we have so many fabulous features, so it is too difficult to choose one. when i say she is representing september, she is actually representing the entire year this year as a teacher of the year. trudy osmond is our kindergarten teacher. [applause] that a-ha moment when children realize that they can be brave and accomplish those tasks that they did not think they could do or want to do with just a little encouragement and cheerleading from their teachers. students come and go, and many leave their footprint on your heart. individual stories do stand out, but collectively, it is a community effort that means so much to her. trudy, congratulations.

[applause] >> i'm glad i did not have to go first. unaccustomed as i am talking in front of people, you have to do five or six to get along with me. i really am very honored to receive this award today, and the top part for me is that i find it a little sad that there is only a few people who can be chosen for this. i know that there are many teachers who work hard and inspired many. i was fortunate enough to be recognized and promoted through this process. i have done the work to get here, however, and i have been a cheerleader for many students over many years, and is great to be supported by my friends and

family and have my own cheerleading section here. i have calculated that i have roughly taught over 600 students in my time, and that is a number that is larger than any student body. i know these children have influenced me over time while i have been at san francisco unified. from what i can tell, i have been lucky ones who have also influenced them, and have distinct honor of being their very first formal teacher. this is a special event in my life which could not have come in at a time. i will always remember this recognition and kindness shown to me in order to make this happen on my behalf. [applause] that up congratulations, trudy. she joins us at our home plate ceremony with the giants on wednesday, so we need to take the teacher awards ceremony with

the san francisco united institute. thank you for coming out to the ball game. >> tickets to the asian art museum. >> asian art museum vip tickets during wonderful. thank you. our october teacher of the month is karen from galileo academy of science and technology. she is our map and academy hospitality tourism. susan's fired by one of her students who was missing class, not connected to school, and did not seem to care. she joined her academy of hospitality and tourism class and stay connected to her, even when she left for a bit to continue busy to attend a continuation high school to catch up on credits. she returned with a new spirit and commitment to graduate. karen will be here and will be most proud. karen, congratulations. [applause] >> thank you.

it is an honor to be up here. first, i have to thank my husband who supports us every day and never says, "when are you going to be downgrading those tests?" for "are you done with that lesson plan?" or "you are leaving today to drive eight kids to disneyland?" to my grandmother who at 93 and fires the family with her determination. to my colleagues who support me every day and work with us to really give a great education to our students. i have a wonderful administration who supports all the teachers and really inspires us to be our best. and to the students to make teaching so much fun. thank you. [applause] >> she is going on rocket boat.

our november teacher of the month is from yellow elementary school, a third grade bilingual teacher. [applause] she has always test, and kurds, and inspired when his students come back to see her to report their accomplishments, such as being accepted to lowell, getting excellent grades, are winning awards. there are few greater satisfactions in life than since coming back to thank her and tell the -- tell her how well they're doing. [applause] >> i would like to thank the mayor and other leaders, the organizers and supporters for this event. this means a lot to me. i never thought or dreamed that i would be honored in this grand city hall when i came over to the united states in 1993, and

this is truly an honor that i will never forget. and i think actually i am getting on it, and it is in my name but actually belongs to all the people i have invited here. first, my husband. i would like to thank him for being my encyclopedia, my advisor, my personal chef, and house cleaner. [applause] and i forgot -- also for being my personal clout and making me laugh. i would like to thank my principal for setting up very high expectations for all the

teachers, creating a very efficient systems, and an environment where the teachers can learn from each other and work effectively and make the students learn and protect their potential. also, i would like to thank the volunteers. they are retired, but they are still dedicated to my students, and i would like to thank them for their love, their devotion, and their time to do all the work that i do not have the time to do. and i would like to thank all my colleagues and friends for their friendship, their support, and they are my phyllis, and each one of them should be here instead of me. thank you all. [applause]

>> i think we need to get your husband and i had -- an ipad. our december season of the month is david from babylon high school, one of our el teachers. he has traveled the world and settle at balboa because it is basically the united nations, a kaleidoscope of ethnicities and cultures. his goal has always been duplicitous riggers and give them a shot at the dance. he used to sit at the excelsior mcdonald's in the morning and a genius to preschool. now, they are in first. the class is. david, congratulations. [applause] >> this one is for my dad in heaven and my mom and my brothers.