PALM DESERT – The middle school students in Nan Davis-Kirchhevel’s classroom at Palm Desert Charter Middle School in the Desert Sands Unified School District are accustomed to guest speakers visiting their classroom as part of their teacher’s focus on experiential learning.
On Thursday, May 21, none of them expected more than a dozen educators, media members, and colleagues led by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez, to step into their classroom and surprise Ms. Davis with the news that she is the first 2027 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.
“Ms. Davis makes her classroom come alive with experiential learning through guest speakers that bring history and humanities to life,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez. “She incorporates diverse literature and perspectives into her curriculum that cultivate a learning environment where students see themselves reflected in the stories that they read.”…