By Neil Farrell ~

The local Teacher of the Year is now up for Statewide Teacher of the Year, after being honored by her peers in early May.

Aimee Burrus was named the San Luis Coastal Unified School District’s 2015 Teacher of the Year last May and was named County Teacher of the Year in August, as her peers chose her to represent SLO County.

Burrus is now teaching math at Morro Bay High. She previously taught at Sinsheimer Elementary, Laguna Middle School and most recently, Los Osos Middle School where she played an integral role establishing the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Program (STEAM).

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”Superintendent Dr. Eric Prater” link=”” color=”#009900″ class=”” size=””] “Aimee Burrus has set up a classroom that requires students to persist. By developing and encouraging grit, perseverance and resilience in the classroom, students often for the first time experience the intrinsic victory of overcoming roadblocks and mastering difficult concepts.”   [/pullquote]

“With the innovative 6th grade STEAM Program, Mrs. Burrus has taken a leadership role in redefining a math and science classroom,” said LOMS Principal, Andre Illig. “She is the epitome of 21st Century teaching.”

Superintendent Dr. Eric Prater said, “Aimee Burrus has set up a classroom that requires students to persist. By developing and encouraging grit, perseverance and resilience in the classroom, students often for the first time experience the intrinsic victory of overcoming roadblocks and mastering difficult concepts.”

“I feel that teaching is an honorable profession,” Burrus said. “Teachers are the lucky few who have the opportunity to witness the intense spark of learning. The powerful feelings of happiness that arise when a student finally makes the connection between what they are working on in class and the real world is extremely emotional and satisfying.”

Burrus is also a Girl Scout troop leader and volunteers with local beach clean-up programs. She also works closely with suffering children, and initiated and led Kid Flicks, collecting children’s movies for kids undergoing chemotherapy at local hospitals.

A committee from the California Department of Education will review nominations in mid-September. The California Teacher of the Year winner will be announced in October.

Applications are judged on a variety of criteria, including the teacher’s ability to inspire through their own commitment to lifelong learning and the teacher’s dedication to the belief that all students can achieve.

Points are also given for “application creativity.” Burrus’ application prompts the reviewer to scan a QR code to make the document come to life in video form.