WVCBA Celebrates Educator of the Month Erin Huizinga

Congratulations to February 2022 Educator of the Month Erin Huizinga​, Teacher/Peer Resource Lead at 
Rancho Campana High School! Erin was celebrated by colleagues on February 4 with the recognition.

Erin with Camarillo Mayor Shawn Mulchay

Thank you to the generous sponsors of the program - Coastal Embroidery, Trophies Etc., and Coastal Sign Shop - and to those who graciously donated items to our educators: Coastal Embroidery/Trophies Etc./ Coastal Sign Shop, Express Employment Professionals, John Gardner of TRIAD Leadership Group, kidSTREAM, Ventura County Credit Union, and Gary Cushing of Marie Callender’s in Camarillo.

Erin also received certificates from the City of Camarillo, presented by Mayor Shawn Mulchay; Supervisor Kelly Long, presented by Brian Miller; and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Senator Monique Limon, and Congresswoman Julia Brownley who were unable to attend. 

Here's why Principal Bryan Martin​ nominated Erin for the honor:

"Erin was the lead of our Medical Sciences Academy and also one of the founding teachers of RCHS. She currently runs our Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program. helping find ways to promote a positive school culture.

Erin is in charge of RCHS's Peer Resource Program. This program trains students to be peer counselors and positive influences around campus. Peer Resource is instrumental in promoting student health with weekly social emotional lessons, peer mediation and schoolwide events such as Wellness Wednesdays.

Erin has formed positive relationships with both teachers and students. She is a model teacher and is one of our instructional leads. She helps to organize and develop all teacher run professional development. RCHS has six teacher led collaborations that Erin plans by assessing the teacher need, finding positive teachers that can address that need and scheduling the necessary professional development. With students, she is always one of our top nominated teachers for Teacher of the Year.

Erin has a tremendous impact on students. She builds relationships that carry past graduation. Students frequently name her as one of their favorite teachers. Erin is a focused communicator who quickly establishes a strong rapport with anyone for whom she advocates. All of her students know they are loved and would do anything for her. They appreciate her caring, feedback and commitment to creating a relevant curriculum.

Erin is actively involved in the district and community. Throughout her tenure as Academy Lead she provided our students with multiple internship opportunities and partnered with business leaders in the Camarillo area to give Medical Science students access to "real life" experiences. She has worked with the district to create programs such as Peer Resource that are beneficial to the entire school.

Erin is a leader in her subject matter. She has written close to twenty classes for the district She worked to get credit at Oxnard College for students in some of her classes. She frequently partners with Oxnard College to offer the RCHS students dual enrollment opportunities. Erin developed and wrote all of her classes for the district and submitted them to the UC/CSU system for approval.

With the current COVID crisis and the focus on student mental health, Erin has been at the forefront of helping to bring Social Emotional Learning to our students. Her impact on the RCHS culture is unfathomable. She works with everybody. including administration, classified, teachers and counselors to bring an inclusive, warm and understanding environment to Rancho Campana High School. Her impact on Rancho Campana High School is indescribable and we are all thankful for her hard work, creativity and intelligence."

ABOUT THE EDUCATOR OF THE MONTH PROGRAM

The WVCBA Education Committee supports and plans the Camarillo Educator of the Month program each school year. The program began in 1987 by the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce to provide special recognition for local educators who have demonstrated excellence in carrying out their duties. Principals and parent-teacher organizations from Pleasant Valley, Somis, Oxnard Union and Ventura County Schools (in Camarillo area only), Mesa School Districts, Charter Schools and CSU Channel Islands are asked to nominate an educator. Six educators are recognized throughout the school year.