Ramona Letourneau Named Exemplary Teacher
Ramona LeTourneau said she was called to be a teacher.
“I truly believe that teaching is a calling and that your whole heart and soul has to be in it,” said the first-grade teacher at Flory Academy of Sciences and Technology. “I've always loved children, and I continue to have a passion for teaching.”
The Simi Valley resident who began teaching 21 years ago was recently named a California Association of School-University Partnerships Exemplary Teacher.
“This award is given to an exemplary teacher who has positively impacted a school-university partnership,” said Dr. Shana Matamala, the CASUP Awards chairperson in a written statement.
Flory Principal Rosalinda Silva said LeTourneau is “highly deserving of the award” and lauded her for the respect and admiration the staff has for her.
“She is wise with experience and still excited and passionate about improving her teaching skills,” the principal said. “By mentoring new teachers, she is shaping the future of education. That is a gift that will give beyond her tenure as a teacher.”
While LeTourneau loves teaching children, she has also spent the past decade teaching other teachers.
Through a partnership begun in 2006 between California Lutheran University and Moorpark Unified School District, Flory is a Professional Development School. The program brings CLU students—called teacher candidates—into Moorpark Unified classrooms to learn from experienced educators like LeTourneau.
LeTourneau said the program is beneficial to the aspiring teachers because it gives them hands-on experience in a classroom setting.
“The best way to learn is by doing,” LeTourneau said, “It helps the new teachers apply the theories they’re learning at the university. They get to learn about running a classroom, student management, proper instruction and testing.”
In short, she said, the program prepares the next generation of teachers for their career in education.
But more than simply helping teacher candidates, LeTourneau said her first graders benefit too. She said the additional support in the class allows for small groups to work on different activities and more individualized attention for students.
Whether it’s new technology or the most recent teaching strategies, LeTourneau said she’s also always learning from the teacher candidates.
“It's a great partnership, and it's great for the kids to be able to have two teachers in the classroom and to help support their needs,” she said.
Flory has five teacher candidates from CLU this year. Campus Canyon Preparatory Academy also has three teacher candidates.
“This long-standing partnership with CLU has been such an amazing resource for Moorpark Unified,” said Superintendent Dr. Kelli Hays. “From the teacher candidates to the students to the experienced teachers, everyone benefits from this program.”
LeTourneau said she was “utterly surprised” to learn that she’d won the Exemplary Teacher Award after being nominated by fellow Flory teacher Adrianna Ocegueda and Susan Koch, a CLU supervisor for teacher candidates.
Regardless of the accolades, LeTourneau is glad she answered the calling to become a teacher. She loves the job.
“There’s a lot of joy in our classroom and at our school,” LeTourneau said. “When you walk out and the kids come running to you and they call your name and they come to give you a hug, there’s nothing more beautiful or wonderful than that.”
LeTourneau was recognized at CASUP's annual membership meeting on March 13 and at Moorpark Unified School District’s Board of Education meeting on March 14.