Teachers of the Year named
2000

Encinitas has a noteworthy tradition of recognizing and honoring its teachers through the Teacher of the Year program. The Teacher of the Year program celebrates and pays special tribute to the tireless efforts of our outstanding teachers. In doing so, the program brings well-deserved recognition to the whole teaching staff in the Encinitas Union School District.

This year, each school site selected a Teacher of the Year. These outstanding teachers included:

Betty Liska Flora Vista School	Jan Patterson La Costa Heights School		Arlene DeTuri Park Dale Lane School
Germaine Palmore Mission Estancia School	Julie Hinze Encinitas Teacher of the Year Paul Ecke Central School		Sally Russell Capri School
Maureen Taylor Olivenhain Pioneer School		June Stone Ocean Knoll School

A selection committee, made up of previous EUSD Teachers of the Year and the Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, selected Julie Hinze, teacher at Paul Ecke Central School as the Encinitas Teacher of the Year. The selection criteria included personal and professional growth, commitment, professional skills, community involvement, philosophy of teaching and learning, and support and endorsement by one's peers.

Mrs. Hinze has taught for the past twenty-two years. Over the years, she has taught all grades - kindergarten through sixth grade. She describes herself as a life-long learner and instills this same attitude in her students. Her interests in science, technology, and history are evident in the variety of projects in which her students are involved. She maintains and sponsors the Friendship Garden at Paul Ecke Central. She is an active and supportive advocate for math through the math research group. Technology is woven throughout her instruction. Students are often seen using technology in the classroom. Her students have been involved in plays and their artwork has been displayed throughout the City of Encinitas.

Recently, Mrs. Hinze represented Paul Ecke Central in the AOL Grant Conference in Washington, D.C. As part of the third grade team, she is currently working on a native garden to be planted at the Old School House at Pacific View School. As a member of the Encinitas Historical Society, Mrs. Hinze has brought many resources to Paul Ecke Central.

Throughout the years, Mrs. Hinze has been active in Encinitas on District Instructional Improvement Committees, San Diego County Office of Education curriculum committees, and as a grant reader. She has been recognized as a Greater San Diego Reading Association Teacher of the Year and is currently a BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program) Support Provider.

"Her energy is boundless. Her rapport with parents and the community is widely recognized and
respected," say her teaching colleagues. According to her principal, Gregg Sonken, "The Encinitas
Union School District is fortunate to have Julie Hinze as part of its certificated staff. We at Paul
Ecke Central/Pacific View School celebrate her success and are honored to have the Encinitas
Teacher of the Year as part of our school's teaching staff."

Ms. Hinze will now progress to the San Diego County level of competition for County Teacher of the Year. All EUSD Teachers of the Year will be honored at our annual Salute to Stars ceremony on May 15, 2000, 6:00 PM, at Olivenhain Pioneer School.