And the Teacher of the Year Award Goes to...
Middle School Science Teacher Leisa Moore, left, and High School Visual Arts Chair Anna Wadman, right, are honored at the graduation ceremonies.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Atsinger Teaching Excellence Award (Teacher of the Year): High School Visual Arts Chair Anna Wadman, and Middle School Science Teacher Leisa Moore. The title is awarded to faculty instructors who are recognized by administration and their colleagues for exemplary teaching performance throughout the school year. Wadman and Moore were recognized at the high school and middle school graduations in May and June, respectively.
Speaking at the high school commencement, Associate Head of School for Academics and Arts Dr. Matt Northrop said, "What makes Oaks Christian truly special is the people. It's our living curriculum. It's the men and women who don't see what they do as just jobs but who view their roles as a calling: their life purpose."
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Danielle Roberts is the Grade 4 and Academy V reading and learning specialist at Oaks Christian. This is her first year at Oaks Christian, but her 29th year in education. She received her undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles, and 4-year and multiple-subject teaching credential at the University of California, Irvine. She has been married to her husband, Brett, for 29 years, and they have three adult children.
Several years ago, she obtained a master’s degree in reading and literacy through Grand Canyon University and transitioned into the role of a reading and learning specialist. She has taught in both secular and private schools. She is a Wilson I/II certified dyslexia interventionist, as well.
"I love to work with students with all different strengths and weaknesses and look forward to serving the community here at Oaks Christian. My office is M137, behind the middle school library. Stop by and say hello," she shared.
Alumni Spotlight
We are starting a new series, "Back in the House," where we focus on our current alumni who are employees at Oaks Christian School! We want to highlight their achievements since they graduated from Oaks and returned to dedicate their services to our students and community!
First up is Tatum Shackelford, Class of 2016! When she was at Oaks, her favorite class was AP Literature! She has since graduated from Pepperdine University with a B.A. and St. Andrews University with MLitt. Shackelford has returned to the Oaks Christian Middle School as their English Teacher!
We have Sally Gordin née Roberts, Class of 2004, who is (fun fact!) our first-ever Oaks alumni employee! She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts. On the first day of school, she remembers seeing an unfinished building. Gordin says, "I think back to that as a time that showed me what stepping into faith as a community looked like: it wasn't that the school was proven to be anything, but everyone had faith in what it could be."
Currently, Gordin teaches English (6-12), but previously she taught, wrote curriculum for, and worked with teachers at OCO. She is grateful to have been awarded Teacher of the Year 2020!