Teachers of the Year Teachers of the Year (June 11, 2004)

MV-Whisman's Jodi Maccini is reading specialist

By Julie O'Shea

Jodi Maccini made the decision to be a teacher while riding home on the bus one day after school. She never once changed her mind.

That was more than four decades ago, and Maccini was in the third grade then. Today, she is a literacy coach and reading recovery teacher at Slater Elementary School.

On May 20, the Mountain View-Whisman School District named Maccini its Teacher of the Year.

"I knew you were going to ask me (about) that," Maccini, 56, said, her voice cracking over the phone.

Apologizing for tearing up, Maccini explained it was her "wonderful" third-grade teacher, "Mrs. Still," who had inspired her to go into the profession.

"When thinking of all her talents and abilities, combined with her high level of energy, I'm truly amazed by all she does and offers to the Slater staff," reads the nomination letter one of Maccini's colleagues wrote about her. "She sets a wonderful example for striving to be the best we can be."

Starting her career 34 years ago as a kindergarten teacher in Colorado Springs, Maccini said she instantly fell in love with the job. She has spent the last 14 years with Mountain View-Whisman schools, teaching at Landels, Bubb and Castro before moving to Slater two years ago.

"She is an incredibly hardworking and dedicated teacher," Slater Principal Nicki Smith said. "I say God was smiling on me. She was just a find -- (Jodi's) amazing."

Maccini, who grew up in western Kansas and now lives in Fremont, is a little more modest.

"This is just such an honor," Maccini said. "I felt so gratified. It's a good feeling."

Still, "without the support of the staff, I couldn't do my job," Maccini added. "So that's the key, that the Slater staff supports me."

Five years ago, Maccini began studying to be a reading recovery teacher. She went through a year of training but didn't mind the extra work.

"I guess I really, really like learning, and I don't mind going to school," Maccini said. "I wanted that opportunity."

As part of her job, Maccini is responsible for getting struggling first-graders to read at grade level in 10 to 20 weeks. Maccini works with the students one-on-one.

"I am really no-nonsense when it comes to reading. ... I want them to stretch themselves," Maccini said of her charges.

"When children come running across the school yard at breakneck speed, asking 'Are you going to take us for reading today?' -- that makes my day," Maccini said.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

MV High's Sherry Rekoon excels at special education

By Julie O'Shea

Sherry Rekoon "is so devoted to her students. She is constantly going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure her students succeed in school," reads the letter from one Mountain View High School teacher.

"Most of all, Sherry loves her students, and they love her."

The letter, sent by an anonymous admirer, catapulted Rekoon to one of the highest honors an educator can hope to receive -- Teacher of the Year.

"I was very overwhelmed and very excited," Rekoon said when she was told the news. "Teaching is a love for me; it's definitely not a paycheck."

Rekoon, 53, is part of the special education team at Mountain View High. Her students spend part of the day with her and part in mainstream classes.

"It's huge, the amount of personal energy she devotes to each kid," Principal Pat Hyland said. "She really does go the extra mile to make sure they don't get lost.

"We've been thrilled to have her," Hyland said, adding that the school "stole" Rekoon away from a district in San Jose four years ago.

Laughing, Rekoon, a Mountain View resident, said her son, now 14, pleaded with her to take a job closer to home so that he wouldn't have to go to day care in the afternoons. Shortly after, she found out about the opening at Mountain View High and immediately applied.

Rekoon started teaching professionally in 1972 soon after graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelors degree in special education.

"I just love kids. I love working with them," Rekoon said. "I've always wanted to teach. And I've always wanted to teach children with difficulties."

A daughter of an Air Force officer who was born in Virginia but spent much of her childhood moving around, Rekoon said her main educational interests revolve around psychology and raising students' self-esteem.

"I want to nurture them into self-confident young people," Rekoon said. "I like to find something good in all my students, (and) help head them in the right direction."

Indeed, Hyland said Rekoon knows how to find a way to get the system to work with her student. The principal noted that Rekoon has been known to seek out the parents of her students if there are problems in the classroom and will look for programs and services that will help the teens succeed.

At least three of Rekoon's students are going on to college next fall. One girl plans to go to Humboldt State University and two others will go to Foothill and De Anza community colleges.

"They are all just special in their own way," Rekoon said.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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