The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools recently announced the County Schools' Teachers of the Year for the 2008-09 school year.  Fontana Unified School District's Betty Brooks was among those honored when she was named Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Teacher of the Year.

Sergio Flores, Principal of Fontana High School where Ms. Brooks' ROP classes are located, proudly introduced Ms. Brooks at the Board Meeting.  "Her students go out and compete statewide through a HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Chapter that we just adopted at Fontana High School.  Her students are number one in the state, year after year, for an examination (the State CNA exam) that they take and that is because they are very well prepared.  Her program has grown tremendously - students who are otherwise not very motivated or engaged are beginning to ask how they can get into that program. It’s very contagious. The program is growing and growing.  It’s putting students not just into colleges and universities but straight into work.  This is a very committed teacher."

Tracie Zerpoli, FUSD's Director of Career Technical Education, who oversees the Fontana ROP nominated Ms. Brooks and the County selected her out of the 16 District ROP Programs throughout the County of San Bernardino.  The County selected the finalists based on their applications which included a 500 word essay.  "Her passion is about student success," said Ms. Zerpoli.  "She goes above and beyond to ensure her students are successful and works passionately with all students regardless of their background or aptitudes.  She is an extremely effective teacher that sets very high standards for herself and her students.  She has the ability to motivate students and make them feel they are capable and empowered" over their own future."

Ms. Brooks teaches CNA, Acute CNA, and Medical Terminology at Fontana High School.  Her classes are the cornerstone for the school's Health Science Academy.  Because of her reputation in the community and her ability to create partnerships, her students serve their clinical internships at Loma Linda VA Hospital, Citrus Nursing Home, and Kaiser Permanent.  Said Ms. Brooks, "Watch when you go out into the community and you will see my students.  They are working as CNAs, LVNs, and RN Charge Nurses."

"I have seen people jump obstacles and all types of barriers and do amazing things," Ms. Brooks told the Board.  "I had to write a 500 word essay that I got the day before it was due (as part of the application process for the award). In the essay, I wrote that I was one of the very few people I know that woke up every morning and got the opportunity to follow their bliss. And I absolutely meant that. What I do with my students at Fontana High School is part of my abundance. I thoroughly enjoy it. And I am here tonight to accept this award on behalf of them."

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