Dr. Senegar-Mitchell Named Finalist for California Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Serra High School science teacher Dr. Ericka Senegar-Mitchell for receiving the 2011 State of California Teacher of the Year finalist award at a gala ceremony, held in Sacramento on April 11. State Superintendent of Public Education Tom Torlakson (pictured here) presented Senegar-Mitchell with the award. Dr. David Lorden, Area 8 Superintendent and Serra High Principal Michael Jimenez also made the trip to the state capital to support Senegar-Mitchell, who was the district’s 2010 High School Teacher of the Year as well as a San Diego County Teacher of the Year.

As a general and advanced placement biology teacher at Serra, Dr. Senegar-Mitchell embraces curiosity in her classroom and believes that education is the key to overcoming poverty. Her mission as a teacher is to promote literacy through scientific discovery. Founder and director of the “Science in the City Outreach Program,” a partnership with commercial life science industry leaders, she has since founded “Ladies of Science in the City,” a group of 20 young women who have a passion for science. With the help of dedicated teachers, Senegar-Mitchell was able to escape the violence and the poverty of the inner city, and she hopes to do the same for her students. She has been teaching for 14 years.  The district congratulations Dr. Ericka Senegar-Mitchell on this latest accomplishment.