Congratulations to Our Teacher Appreciation Contest Winners!

Patch has been very happy to take this opportunity to recognize and reward excellent teachers in our local community with our recent "Teacher Appreciation Contest."

Thank you to everyone who nominated your favorite teachers, took time out to tell us why they are so extraordinary, and voted for them in the comments.

We're very excited to announce our local winners — here they are!

There was a two-way tie between two Coastside beloved teachers, Mrs. Linda Herbert and Mrs. Laurie McMahon, so the winner was chosen by randomly pulling a name out of a hat.

Half Moon Bay Patch's local winning teacher is Linda Herbert of Farallone View Elementary School! Herbert teaches Kindergarten and 1st grade.

Here are just a few of the comments that readers wrote in about Herbert:

"Both my children have had (one currently still does) Ms. Linda. She is amazing at her job. She is creative, giving, mindful and knows children of this age so very well. The children (and not to mention the parents) love her!" — Caroline Morton

"I wish my kids could have her as a teacher every year." — Megan Peterson

"Ms. Linda goes above and beyond in so many ways, way beyond the four walls of the classroom to give her students hands on experience with the outside world and context for even the most basic reading and writing lessons. She treats the kids in the classroom like her family and we are so lucky to have her in my daughter's life!" — Kim Ferguson

"She is the most dedicated teacher I have ever come across." — Harriet Ragozin

"A beautiful human being, and a great teacher. She knows the right way to teach a young child: by creating joy in learning!" — Annemieke Dodd

"All 3 of my kids have had her and she makes me want to be a kid again. She wants kids to enjoy learning and really is in tune with their needs, both emotionally and academically." — Jenny Sprankle

"The dedication and support Ms. Linda shows to the children in her class is remarkable. Her heart and soul is apart of everything she does." — Lori Denault

Herbert has won two volunteer hours by Patch editor Christa Bigue, be it helping out in her classroom or anything else she needs to help make her life easier, as she has always done for her students.

And, our grand prize winner out of the 11 winning teachers from our Peninsula Patch sites is Sean Kuiper, first-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary in Burlingame. Congratulations to Mr. Kuiper, who has won a $50 gift card to his favorite school supply store, in addition to winning two hours of volunteer time from a Patch editor.

Here are the teachers across the Peninsula who won our contest on their respective hometown Patch sites:

Menlo Park-Atherton Patch - Katie Williams, Willow Oaks Elementary

Palo Alto Patch - Flora Yang, 2nd grade teacher, Brentwood Academy in East Palo Alto

Redwood City-Woodside Patch - Wendi Brown, special education for 3rd through 5th graders, Fair Oaks Elementary

South San Francisco Patch - Mrs. Kristi Yee, kindergarten teacher, Skyline School

Pacifica Patch - Jennifer McEnany, 11th/12th grade humanities/journalism teacher, Oceana High School

Half Moon Bay Patch - Mrs. Linda Herbert, kindergarten/1st grade teacher, Farallone View Elementary

Burlingame-Hillsborough Patch - Sean Kuiper, 1st grade teacher, Roosevelt Elementary

Millbrae Patch - Coryne Wong, 6th/7th grade science, Taylor Middle School

San Carlos Patch - Marilynn Vandor, 4th grade teacher, Arundel Elementary

Foster City/San Mateo Patch - Mrs. Thompson, 1st grade teacher, Brewer Island Elementary

Belmont Patch - Kristin Pfeifer, choral director, Notre Dame High School

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