Elementary special education teacher Katya Robinson of Sebastopol in West Sonoma County has been named one of five California 2020 Teachers of the Year  (Photo credit: The Press Democrat)

I love to share stories about teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One such teacher is Katya Robinson, an elementary school educator from Sebastopol, California. She was named one of five of California’s 2020 Teachers of the Year.

Katya teaches special education for kindergarten through third grade at West Sonoma County Consortium School in Sebastopol. Her instructional program emphasizes interaction between her special education students and regular education students. “I believe it’s the educator’s job to open doors for our students, especially during their early years,” Katya told Sonoma West Times & News. “I spend a lot of time creating opportunities to learn and breaking down boundaries to their learning,” she continued.

Katya graduated from Piner High School in Santa Rosa, where she had played varsity soccer and basketball. Once she began to work with her special education students, she quickly noticed a lack of athletic and recreational opportunities for her kids. In 2012, she founded Epic Athletes, an organization which offers free basketball and soccer programs for special needs children.

Katya lost her house in the devastating Tubbs Fire in 2017. The call from California State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond to tell her she had been selected as she was conducting a walk-through of her newly rebuilt home.

The other three honored educators from California include Sean Bui of Fremont, Brenda Chavez-Bararras of Perris, Gus Myers of Burbank, and Mandy Kelly of Saddleback. To read more about Katya, see this article at The Press Democrat.