SAUSD Board of Education Vice President Katelyn Brazer Aceves, Board Clerk Valerie Magdaleno, Superintendent Jerry Almendarez, and other District leaders made special surprise visits on Feb. 5, 2025, to recognize the District’s 2026 Teachers and Support Services Staff of the Year!
With balloon bouquets in hand, District leaders celebrated each honoree for their outstanding service and dedication to SAUSD students, families, and schools.
The honorees are set to be formally celebrated at an upcoming Board of Education meeting scheduled for May.
Their names will also be forwarded to the Orange County Department of Education for consideration for the county’s 2026 Teacher of the Year awards.
This year’s honorees are:
Teachers of the Year:
Jazmina Amado, Teacher at Monroe Elementary School
Courtney Doane, Art Teacher at Willard Intermediate School
Susana Herrera, English Teacher at Century High School
Support Services Staff of the Year:
Amber Lund, ELD Coordinator at Segerstrom High School
Read on to learn more details about their commitment and dedication to our schools, our students, our parents and our community, as stated in their award nomination forms.
Elementary Teacher of the Year: Jazmina Amado, Monroe Elementary School
Mrs. Jazmina Amado earned her undergraduate and master's degrees in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in bilingual education from Cal State Fullerton. Since 2014, she has taught grades K through five and served as a grade-level lead and a member of the instructional leadership team.
Mrs. Jazmina Amado has been a second-grade dual language immersion teacher at Monroe Elementary since 2020, where her innovative approach to teaching has greatly enriched the school community. She integrates biliteracy strategies with STEM education to foster bilingualism, biliteracy, and academic excellence, preparing students for success as future-ready leaders. Her expertise in teaching for biliteracy enables her to effectively bridge Spanish and English instruction with STEM concepts, promoting critical thinking and discovery.
Mrs. Jazmina Amado is a passionate and innovative educator who seamlessly integrates biliteracy strategies with STEM education to empower her students as bilingual, biliterate, and future-ready leaders. With expertise in teaching for biliteracy, she combines Spanish and English instruction with STEM concepts, fostering critical thinking and academic excellence while preparing students for 21st-century careers.
Mrs. Jazmina Amado has made significant contributions to staff development and morale through her leadership, mentorship, and innovative approaches. She serves as a mentor to teachers clearing their credentials and to student teacher candidates, fostering professional growth and collaboration.
Intermediate Teacher of the Year: Courtney Doane, Willard Intermediate School
Courtney Doane has dedicated 20 years to the teaching profession, with the past 10 years devoted to the students and community of Willard Intermediate School. Her academic journey reflects a strong commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in education.
Courtney has taught beginning, intermediate, and advanced art, providing students with a well-rounded artistic education. Her impact extends beyond the classroom, as she designs backdrops and sets for the school's annual plays, adding creativity and artistry to schoolwide productions. Additionally, she serves as the advisor for the National Junior Art Honor Society through the National Art Educators Association, offering students the chance to grow as both artists and leaders.
A leader in her field, Courtney provides innovative, student-centered instruction. Her teaching is guided by the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ensuring that every student has the opportunity to grow individually and at their own pace. Through multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression, she empowers students to take ownership of their learning, fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel supported and motivated to succeed.
Courtney plays a vital role in fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and positivity at Willard intermediate. As a key member of the instructional leadership team, she leverages her creative mind to inspire, innovative, schoolwide strategies that benefit both staff and students. Her contributions during leadership meetings are instrumental in shaping initiatives that support teaching excellence and student success.
High School Teacher of the Year: Susana Herrera, English Teacher, Century High School
Ms. Herrera received her BA in English, her Single Subject English Credential, and her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Cal State University, Long Beach. After starting her career in LAUSD for one year, she moved to Century High School in 2009, where she is still a valued part of our teaching staff. She reports that she purposely chooses to work in low-SES schools where she can make a difference.
Currently, Ms. Herrera teaches in our ELD program while also covering our honors Ethnic Studies ELA 9 classes. During her time at Century, she has taught AP-level ELA and Drama, served as the ELD Coordinator, and been a Xinatchil facilitator for at-risk Latinas.
As a leader in our ninth-grade-focused program, Ms. Herrera is constantly using improvement science to enhance the transition to high school and the freshmen experience. She instituted student talks and uses project-based learning and inquiry-based strategies to engage her students.
Ms. Herrera wears many hats on the Century campus. In addition to being the RELD Coordinator, she has also led/trained staff as the Title III Resource Teacher, the Safe Schools Ambassadors Program Coordinator, a WASC Focus Group Lead, and the Lead Teacher for our Freshmen Summer Program and Teacher Groups.
Support Services Staff of the Year: Amber Lund, ELD Coordinator, Segerstrom High School
Amber Lund's academic and professional background includes a BA in English from Westmont College, an MA in Teaching from UC Irvine, five years in marketing in the private sector, six years teaching English at Segerstrom, and currently her ninth year as ELD Coordinator at Segerstrom.
Amber's contributions to improving staff development and morale include writing across the curriculum as committee lead, active participation in the tech committee, senior project coordination, and schoolwide reading initiatives. She also coordinates the school site council and the annual review and management of our Title I program and funds. Amber promotes and provides professional development, including training on CELDT/ELPAC, English learners, GATE, writing across the curriculum, MAP, Aries, Illuminate, and various technology topics.
Amber goes above and beyond her duties daily. She is always looking to contribute to the community of learners at Segerstrom. A crucial aspect of her job is coordinating the writing across the curriculum program, which is a schoolwide initiative where all students write to prompts—narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive. She works with the entire staff, guiding them with a rubric under her direction.
