Schools

Video: San Juan Hills' Mademoiselle Schmitz Is Capo's High School Teacher of the Year

As Superintendent Joseph Farley put it, no one is surprised that Mademoiselle Betsy Schmitz is Capistrano Unified's high school teacher of the year.

The French instructor, however, was surprised.

On Friday morning, family, her mentor, trustees and other district representatives carrying flowers and balloons swarmed her classroom.

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The announcement of the honor brought tears not only to her eyes, but to her students', too.

Schmitz started teaching for the district in 1993 and has two degrees in Spanish and French.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

San Juan Hills Principal Tom Ressler, who worked with Schmitz when they were both teachers at Capistrano Valley High School, said that even after 28 years, she shows the joy and enthusiasm more regularly exhibited by new teachers.

"She is just a model teacher," he said.

She, along with two other Capo teachers (Laurie Lowy, a fifth-grade teacher at Las Flores Elementary School, and Bonnie Liedlich, a sixth- grade math and science teacher at Ladera Ranch Middle School) will represent the district in the competitive 2012 Orange County Teachers of the Year program.


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