Five San Diego County educators were named teachers of the year Thursday, honored for their impact on students’ lives and their contributions to their school communities.
The five teachers are Jennifer Ekstein of Bonita Vista High School, Mackenzie Levine of Perry Elementary School, Kristen LoPrell of Grossmont High School, Peter Manzi of Carlsbad High School and Maria Miller of Morse High School.
All were selected from among 51 teachers chosen by the county’s 42 school districts and learned of the award during surprise visits and campus assemblies.
“This group of educators highlights the passion and diverse expertise that teachers across the county have,” said Dr. Paul Gothold, the county’s retiring superintendent of schools.
These are the five county teachers of the year:
Jennifer Ekstein, Bonita Vista High, Sweetwater Union High School District
Music, motivational posters and a classroom zoo — complete with a goldfish, bearded dragon, Greek tortoises and a variety of plants — await students in Jennifer Ekstein’s classroom at Bonita Vista High School, where she teaches biology and environmental science.
“She lives her brand and passion for the environment, from the solar system skirt she wore during parent night to the quirky bumper stickers advocating for the environment on her car,” wrote Pamela J. Sanchez, a parent of Ekstein’s former students, in a recommendation letter.
On Saturdays, Ekstein volunteers in the community with her students, including working with nonprofits such as Youth 4 a Sustainable Future, I Love a Clean San Diego and SanDiego350. She also founded the school’s culture and climate committee in 2017, where she meets with students, parents and faculty to discuss equity issues, racism and bigotry.
“(From) leading students on a Climate Change Walkout, to building innovative inclusive gardens, to presenting projects at the STEM Fairs, to mitigating against climate change, I encourage and guide my students to become leaders and lifelong advocates for their communities,” Ekstein wrote in her teacher of the year application.
Mackenzie Levine, Perry Elementary School, San Diego Unified School District
Mackenzie Levine prioritizes children’s individual needs in her role at Perry Elementary School, where she teaches third through fifth grade students with mild to moderate disabilities.
“It is of the utmost importance that I provide them with a safe and structured learning environment with high expectations,” Levine wrote in her application. “When working with families over several years, I have the privilege to build lasting relationships where our support for students truly becomes a team, centered on the child.”
She also launched an initiative at the school called Mindful 3, in which each morning a student shares a positive quote for the day, announcements and a welcome message to fellow students over the loudspeaker.
“Mrs. Levine has amazed us with the progress that my children have made and the love and respect they have for her as their teacher,” wrote parent Jaquette Edwards in a recommendation letter.
Kristen LoPrell, Grossmont High, Grossmont Union High School District
Before they step into Kristen LoPrell’s classroom, many students may not immediately love math or think they’re good at it. That’s part of why she works so hard to help students succeed in the subject.
She has played a key role at Grossmont High School in adopting new teaching strategies for the math department, including creating a combined algebra II and precalculus course that allowed all students to take calculus by their senior year — not only those on an advanced track.
“While a large portion of students do not initially like math, we showed up for Mrs. LoPrell because she always showed up for us,” wrote Kate Heubach, a former student, in a letter. “Along the way, we accidentally learned math.”
Heubach added later that it was no accident for LoPrell, who “designed the perfect class for students my age.”
Along with teaching, LoPrell is also the academic league coach at Grossmont High School, a freshman orientation staff leader and the adviser for the school’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance.
Peter Manzi, Carlsbad High, Carlsbad Unified School District
For the past 10 years as the band director and music theory teacher at Carlsbad High School, Peter Manzi has been sharing his love for music with students and helping them feel like they’re part of a team.
Described in one recommendation letter as a “passionate advocate for the arts and a natural leader,” Manzi has led the school’s bands to regional competitions and in local performances, such as with the Carlsbad Village Association.
But it’s his role as a trusted resource for students that has made Manzi stand out.
“He always cared more about the overall person rather than how well you could play an instrument or what type of grade you could get on a test,” wrote Logan McEniry, a former student who turned to Manzi while dealing with personal struggles, including his first heartbreak, in recommending him. “He always made sure he was there and available for his students no matter the time of day.”
Maria Miller, Morse High, San Diego Unified School District
Maria Miller teaches English and American literature at Morse High, but her role at the school goes beyond academics.
She is the adviser of the class of 2026, the creative writing club, cosmetology club and the mock trial team. She also brings in guest speakers for students to learn about different career pathways.
Miller shares a passion for American literature in her classrooms, including through a curriculum that is “representative of the diversity that reflects our student body” such as books like “Firekeeper’s Daughter,” “Just Mercy” and “The Poet X,” said Sonja Taylor, a colleague, in a recommendation letter.
“Students feel empowered in Mrs. Miller’s class as they see themselves in the literature they read, a daring and necessary feat for an educator who knows the importance of student engagement and fostering a sense of belonging within the classroom environment,” Taylor wrote.
