A Los Angeles Unified School District educator was named one of four finalists Tuesday for the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Award.
Daniel Jocz, a social studies teacher at Downtown Magnets High School for more than a decade, will compete for the honor against teachers from Connecticut, Oklahoma and Washington.
“I could not be the teacher that I am without the support of my family, friends, students, parents and colleagues at Downtown Magnets High School,” Jocz said. “It feels great to have the hard work we do at DMHS being acknowledged at the national level.”
Jocz was one of five teachers chosen as California Teachers of the Year in October. He was nominated for the national honor by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.
“Daniel is a dedicated, passionate and innovative educator who incorporates popular culture and music in the teaching of history and social studies in a way that engages his students and makes the subjects more accessible while still being rigorous,” Torlakson said. “I am so pleased that Daniel is a finalist for this award. He is clearly one of the best teachers in the country.”
The winner of the National Teacher of the Year Award will be honored at the White House in spring.
According to the state, Jocz’s students have one of the LAUSD’s highest passage rates for Advanced Placement U.S. History. In addition to teaching, he also serves as the department chair, instructional leadership team member and associated student body adviser.
LAUSD officials said Jocz was the first member of his family to attend college, and he worked full-time to put himself through school and graduated magna cum laude from UCLA.
“I strive every day to capture the magic, complexity and wonder of history for my students from across Los Angeles’ inner-city neighborhoods,” Jocz said. “My students from neighborhoods as diverse as South and East Los Angeles and Chinatown rarely see themselves as being part of American history.”
— City News Service