San Jose, CA, October 19, 2023- The Santa Clara County Office of Education has announced two Moreland School District teachers are being honored with a 2023 Special Teacher Recognition Award at the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s annual Teacher Recognition Celebration on Monday, October 23, 2023. Please join us in congratulating the following award-winning teachers who were selected from educators across the county for their innovative teaching efforts.
- Dawn Lavond, Moreland Middle School Social Studies & Leadership Teacher,
2023 Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union for Civic Engagement Award Winner
- Tanicia Peairs, Moreland Middle School Elective Teacher,
2023 Santa Clara County Innovation in STEM Curiosity Award Winner
Dawn Lavond teaches social studies and leadership at Moreland MIddle School. She is enthusiastic about showing students how U.S. History is fun and applies to each of them. Dawn has also created a robust and popular leadership class where students have the opportunity to create and implement activities for all of Moreland Middle School. Off of campus, Dawn’s leadership class leads events such as Pennies for Patients, Second Harvest Food Drive, and a donation drive for the local animal shelter. Dawn has also led Moreland students on a Washington D.C. trip for almost three decades to teach middle schoolers about History and Civic Engagement. Dawn Lavond will be honored with the 2023 Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union for Civic Engagement Award.
Tanicia Peairs is an STEM elective teacher at Moreland Middle School. She earned her Level 2 Google Certified Educator Certification and teaches Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Flight and Space, along with PLTW Computer Science for Innovators and Makers, which are brand new courses at Moreland Middle School. Tanicia will be awarded the 2023 Santa Clara County Innovation in STEM Award for Curiosity, which is given to educators who are inspiring students to pursue innovation in STEM and have a passion for inspiring curiosity in their students.Tanicia facilitates a new MakerSpace at Moreland Middle School, ensuring all students have access to creating craft projects using high-quality materials, technology and unique educational experiences.
Dawn Lavond and Tanicia Peairs will be honored with Moreland School District’s 2023 Teacher of the Year Joseph Sinn, a sixth grade math and science teacher at Easterbrook Discovery School.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education Teacher Recognition Celebration is one of the oldest and largest celebrations of teachers in California. Please visit www.sccoe.org/trc for more information about the Teacher Recognition Celebration which has been a Santa Clara County tradition for more than 50 years.