Camino Grove elementary school teacher Patricia Ann "Pann" Baltz has been chosen as the State of California representative for the National Teacher of the Year program.
Patricia Ann "Pann" Baltz, 44, of Camino Grove Elementary School, is sharing the Walt Disney Co. Outstanding Teacher of 1993 award after a ballot mix-up awarded it solely to a Texas teacher. She will receive a $25,000 honorarium, $25,000 for Camino Grove, and $10,000 for the school district.
Camino Grove elementary teacher Patricia Ann Baltz will be one of 60 teachers profiled by the Disney Channel. 36 finalists will be culled from the 60 teachers profiled, and each will receive an honorarium of $2500. Disney will also award one additional cash prize of $25,000 to an "Outstanding Teacher of 1993." The teacher's school will receive $25,000 and the school district $10,000.
Louis Pappas, First Avenue Junior High School history teacher, has been appointed assistant principal at Foothills Junior High School. Pappas will succeed Dr. Donald Smith who is retiring January 28.
Teachers and parents at Camino Grove and Holly Avenue elementary schools are in communication with the Arcadia Board of Education to restore the School Improvement Program.
A former Arcadia High School teacher challenged in small claims court the new contract between Arcadia instructors and the school district, maintaining the contract is unfair to individuals who retired just before the start of the current school year.
Isabelle Stires is retiring after 19 years in the Arcadia Unified School District. This past year Mrs. Stires has been teaching second grade at Camino Grove School. Before that she taught second and third graded at Bonita Park School. She and her husband plan to travel.
Ernie Harrington, principal of Santa Anita Elementary School has retired. He joined the district staff in 1950 as a fourth grade teacher. Santa Anita School will not be opening in the fall.
For the first time Arcadia has a counselor, Eric Mordin, at the elementary level this year. At the present time he serves only Highland Oaks and Camino Grove schools.
The Arcadia Teachers Association will file unfair practice charges against the Board of Education for "clear and obvious harassment of a teacher." At issue is a leave of absence sought by Jean Voznick.
New school principals have been appointed by the Arcadia Unified School District. Susan MacNab will succeed Paul Mundy at Hugo Reid; William Robertson will succeed Charles Jarboe at Camino Grove; John Bogut at Arcadia Continuation succeeding John Simmons; Mark Vetter, English teacher at Arcadia High School, has been appointed assistant principal, Curriculum and Guidance at the high school.
The School Board has approved the appointment of the district's first group of mentor teachers. The 14 teachers, classroom veterans who lend their expertise to new and less experienced teachers, are named.