Honored teacher helps students of all ages
Published: October 5, 2005
Yvonne Edman was a teacher’s aide before she decided to go back to college.
Now she is representing Borrego Springs Unified School District as its Teacher of the Year for 2005.
Teaching has been on her heart from an early age.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Edman had a traumatic experience in first grade. She felt humiliated by a teacher so she decided to become one herself.
“I remember thinking, ‘I want to grow up and be a nice teacher and make kids feel safe in the classroom.’ I always knew, growing up, I would teach someday.
Edman waited until her son and daughter were at Julian Elementary School before completing her degree at California State University San Marcos. She did her student teaching at Mt. Woodson Elementary School in Ramona and got her first job as a teacher seven years ago at Borrego Springs Elementary School. She taught first-and second-grade combination classes for three years and has been a kindergarten teacher there for four years.
“I just love the energy the kids give you.” she said. “It’s a total different energy you get at that grade level. I’m really big at being really positive with them. I’m always telling them, ‘Anything you want to do, you can do. Just do your best.’ They tell me they’re trying.”
Edman’s contact with her students doesn’t stop when they leave her classroom. Former students, now in junior and senior high, often come back to see her.
“They do keep in contact because it’s a small district,” she said. “That’s what’s so nice about it. I even have kids coming from junior high to get help with their algebra.”
Edman speaks at Borrego Springs High School on Career Day, encouraging students to go on to higher education.
“I’m really encouraging the importance of higher education. I go on Career Day and tell them college is out there. I’m not different from any other teachers; I just make myself available to older kids as well as kindergartners.”
Edman, who speaks Spanish, offers translation assistance to bilingual students for college and scholarship applications.
She attributes her selection as Teacher of the Year to her enthusiasm in the classroom and the help she gives older students. Edman tutors students in third, fourth and fifth grades.
“I try to encourage other kids, not only my kindergartners, on a daily basis,” she said. “I try to reach the teenagers. Education is important.”
She will represent the district Saturday at the Salute to Teachers at the Civic Theatre in San Diego. Forty-four teachers from 31 school districts in the county are finalists for the title of county Teacher of the Year.
Edman, 46, has lived in Julian 14 years. Her husband, Robert, is a firefighter in Warner Springs. Their son, Seth, 17, is studying to be an engineer at the University of California Santa Cruz. Their daughter, Sarah, 16, is a junior at Julian Union High School and plans to be a teacher.
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