Santa Paula teacher honored as Ventura County Teacher of the Year

SANTA PAULA, Calif. - Ventura County school officials surprised a teacher at Glen City Elementary School in the Santa Paula Unified School District on Thursday. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, announced Mia Rogers is the 2021 Ventura County Teacher of the Year.

Rogers and her students found out about the honor when family and local dignitaries walked into her second grade classroom.

“Succeeding is not an option for students in Mrs. Rogers’ class; it’s a given. She knows what each student is capable of, helps them gain confidence and pushes them beyond their current instructional level," Lydia Olivo, Glen City Elementary School Principal said.

Rogers' first job out of college was working with troubled adolescents at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility. She decided to return to school to earn her teaching credential in her thirties after becoming a mom and said it was the best decision she ever made, according to the Ventura County Office of Education.

 “We need to teach kids the skills they need in life with the realization that these skills change over time,” Rogers said. “How can we effectively do this if we are not also improving our skills regularly?”

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Rogers took the opportunity to teach her students about overcoming adversity and making the most of the tools they have at their disposal.

She is now eligible to be considered for the 2022 California Teacher of the Year award.