In case you were wondering if the Brentwood Union School District (BUSD) employs any outstanding middle school teachers, feel free to ask Margaret Kruse.

“Our teachers do great, great things in the middle school arena. They are wonderful educators, and this is just a great opportunity to show that,” said Kruse, BUSD assistant superintendent. “To have three teachers from Brentwood honored is quite something.”

Kruse is referring to the recent Educator of the Year awards, the California League of Middle School’s annual honors awarded to teachers in 11 regions throughout the state. The outstanding instructors are recognized for their exemplary efforts on behalf of educational reform and support at the middle school level.

Chosen from a field of hundreds of educators throughout the state, nominees are recommended by their peers and pared down to a final 11 in each district. One representative from each district is chosen to go on to the state competition. The representative from Region IV is Ken Klieman from the San Mateo-Foster City School District. He will go on to compete in the state finals in February.

This year in Region IV, which includes Contra Costa County, three of the 11 nominees were from the BUSD. They are Bart Schneider, performing arts teacher at Edna Hill; Adams music teacher Lindsay Vietti; and Fred Albe, computer and science teacher at Bristow.

The nominees were feted during a recent Brentwood City Council meeting, and proclamations from Sen. Barbara Boxer and Congressman Jerry McNerney were presented to them.

Schneider, who is also a former Teacher of the Year, is honored by the recent accolade. “We’re all pretty fired up,” said Schneider. “Everyone here in the district does such an amazing job, and to be recognized with your peers is such an honor.”

For Vietti, sharing the company of her Brentwood peers makes the award especially sweet. “I’m completely honored,” said Vietti. “And to be acknowledged with the other teachers in the district says a lot about Brentwood and the community. I love what I do and I love teaching the students. It’s nice to have some positive news for the district.”

Albe is also proud of the honor, but added that it’s the collective efforts of the BUSD that makes for successful students. “For the past 11 years as a science and computer teacher at Bristow, I have seen a remarkable transformation in the Brentwood schools,” said Albe. “The curriculum in all subject areas is today organized and integrated across all the schools in the district … Schools are not, and shouldn’t be considered, businesses, but the BUSD uses many of the planning and execution tools that I have seen work so well in the business world to achieve its goals and produce successful students. Congratulations, BUSD.”

For more information on the Educator of the Year awards and a complete list of the winners, visit www.clms.net.