Three teachers from the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District have earned recognition for their efforts in STEM education, graphic design and social justice.
Saratoga High School engineering teacher Audrey Warmuth, Los Gatos High School graphic design teacher Alex Czech and LGHS English and social justice teacher Tiffany Hamm were set to receive 2023 Special Teacher Recognition Awards from the Santa Clara County Office of Education at an Oct. 23 celebration.
Warmuth, winner in the Innovation in STEM category was an integral part of launching Saratoga High’s interdisciplinary STEM program.
“Working tirelessly over the past seven years to help develop the new engineering lab, Audrey reiterates in every lesson that not succeeding on an attempt to do something doesn’t mean actual failure,” reads a release from the district. “She shares that engineering is all about problem-solving, and students are successful in the class if they learn what works (by successes) and what doesn’t work (by learning from hands-on experience).”
In addition to teaching, Czech, who received the 2023 Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union Arts Leadership Award, also owns a graphic design apparel brand.
According to the district, “Alex has built a career technical education pathway for students that teaches them how to take their acquired design skills to the next level with entrepreneur and career-ready skills (in) an ever-changing field. Working hands-on with organizations such as Amazon, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, local realtors and more, students are often paired with internships and partnerships after high school that have led to careers in graphic design and art.”
In addition to winning the 2023 Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union for Civic Engagement, Hamm is also a Freedom Writer Foundation Award winner. Through an annual civic-led changemaker community service project, Hamm gives students “an opportunity to make a tangible difference,” said district officials.
“Last school year, students worked together to develop their own curriculum on how to prevent gun violence and bullying in middle schools. Students created modules, conducted empathy interviews and researched the topic as it applied directly to the Los Gatos community.”
Shariliyn Anheier, a Los Gatos High School physics teacher, will also be honored at the County Office of Education’s celebration as the district’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.
For more information, visit www.sccoe.org/trc.
