Staff Reports

Photo courtesy: CNUSD
ERHS teacher, Amanda Sandoval, was surprised when she found out she became a 2017 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

Eastvale – An Eleanor Roosevelt High School teacher was recently surprised after being recognized as a 2017 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

Amanda Sandoval, an ERHS U.S. history teacher, was taken by surprise last month when she walked into the Mustang theater filled with balloons, hundreds of cheering students, colleagues, family members, and District representatives. She was given flowers and the Riverside County Office of Education Superintendent, Mr. Kenneth Young, announced that she was selected as one of the 2017 Riverside County Teachers of the Year.

Superintendent Young also shared student feedback from Sandoval’s application process that revealed how one of her students expressed a desire to become a history teacher like her. “There is no greater honor you can give a teacher,” Superintendent Young said.

Following the surprise, Sandoval shared: “I love my coworkers and my principal. It’s easy to be good at the job with so much support.”

Sandoval has taught U.S. history at Eleanor Roosevelt High School since first becoming a teacher in 2007. “She creates opportunities for her students to engage with history in their own community, is a sought-after presenter on topics related to English language learners and technology, and has been described as having ‘an unquenchable thirst to maximize her instruction,’” said a CNUSD news release.

Ms. Sandoval’s approach to helping students understand history includes assigning projects that propel her students into historical moments in time so they can envision history happening as if they were an actual character in the story. Not only does Ms. Sandoval promote positive praise and digital literacy in her classes, she shares her social studies lessons online with other teachers and regularly receives feedback from teachers around the country who are successfully utilizing her ideas in their classrooms, according to CNUSD. She earned a bachelor’s degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and is a resident of Corona.

“Congratulations Mrs. Sandoval! Your passion, vision, and hard work leaves a lasting impact in the lives of our students!” stated a CNUSD post.