Cindy Evans​ Named Marin County Teacher Of The Year

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The Marin County Office of Education has named special education teacher Cindy Evans as the 2021 Marin County Teacher of the Year.

Evans, who has worked as a teacher for 12 years, is dedicated to creating a culture of kindness, acceptance, diversity and unity in her classroom, school and community, said Mary Jane Burke, Marin County superintendent of schools.

"Cindy has consistently demonstrated a high-level of personal commitment to her students," Burke said.

Evans implemented an inclusion program in her classroom in collaboration with the general education program. The program allows for the integration between her students and their general education peers.

"When you enter my room, you will see a beautiful mixture of students all at the same age, but with very different sets of challenges," Evans said. "For me, this is the ultimate inclusive classroom experience where I have the opportunity to reach such a diverse range of students.

"Children with special needs excel when they are side by side with their general education peers; and the general education peers open themselves up to begin to understand, acceptance, commonalities and compassion. My students with special needs and their general education peers learn so much from each other, in a natural way — on their own."

The Teacher of the Year program annually recognizes teachers who are "deemed exemplary, demonstrate leadership, innovation and contributions to education," according to the Marin County Office of Education.

Burke has submitted Evans' nomination for consideration at the state level.

"Cindy's most remarkable influence came during a time of global chaos and uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic created unrest for our most vulnerable students and their families," Burke said.

"In this unprecedented situation where schools were forced to implement mandated distance learning for the first time in history, Cindy recognized the detrimental impact it was having on her students and volunteered to be a part of a pilot program that would allow students to return to a safe and reimagined classroom environment."

A formal recognition will take place during the annual Golden Bell Awards ceremony scheduled May 20, 2021.