Martinez Unified Teacher Of The Year Receives Special Visit

MARTINEZ, CA – Pamuela Galletti’s fourth-grade classroom at John Muir Elementary School in Martinez received a visit recently from Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey. That is because this past March, Galleti, a native of Pinole, was named by the Martinez Unified School District as its Teacher of the Year, according to a news release from Contra Costa County Office of Education.

Throughout the school year, Superintendent Mackey makes it a point to visit each incoming Teacher of the Year —TOY— in their classrooms, before they are all honored at the renowned annual Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year Gala Dinner. The classroom visits are a great way for her to meet the teachers and their students, as well as take in the day’s lesson plan, said Jonathan Lance, spokesman for CCCOE.

With 20 years of elementary-school teaching experience, Galletti has been at Martinez’s John Muir Elementary for the past 16 years. Prior, she taught grades fourth and fifth at Knightsen Elementary School, in Knightsen, California.

When asked about Galletti, Martinez Unified School District Superintendent C.J. Cammack said:

“Knowing how to design instruction is crucial to the success of teachers and students. Knowing how to connect with students is also a critical element of ensuring their academic and emotional development. Pam Galletti’s ability to blend these two skill sets is where teaching turns to magic and learning turns to fun. Her students feel supported, they feel safe, and they want to be in school. Thanks to her excellence in the craft of teaching, her students are immersed in experiences and thinking far beyond the traditional design of instruction. Mrs Galletti’s students are collaborating, creating, using critical thinking skills, and developing confidence in their own character."

Cammack continued:

"The loudest voice is not the one with the greatest power. The voice with the greatest influence holds the power. Mrs. Galletti is such a humble individual, she’d likely never consider how much influence she leverages. Yet, that same humility is part of what makes hers so respected. Teachers, students, administrators, elected officials, and community members all listen when Mrs. Galetti speaks. She is recognized across our school district and community as a leader, a teacher, and an advocate for equity and excellence."

There are approximately 8,637 teachers educating nearly 178,000 students in Contra Costa County’s public schools, according to Lance.

"To recognize their efforts and bring much-deserved honor to the teaching profession, the participating school districts in the county named their TOY representatives in mid-March," Lance said.

The 22 Contra Costa County TOYs, class of 2019-20, including Galletti, will be introduced and honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Gala Dinner planned for the evening of Sept. 26 at the Hilton Concord. The 22 TOYs will be accompanied by their families, friends and co-workers. The expected crowd of close to 500 will also include numerous other supporters of the program.

Due to the larger number of students and teachers in their districts, Lance said, West Contra Costa USD, Mt. Diablo USD, and San Ramon Valley USD are allowed to submit two TOY candidates.

More information about this year's CCCOE TOY Program is posted here.