Learning as a two-way street

Sure, Teacher of the Year is a great award. But Renee Keeler can remember an even better one.

“I am thinking of a couple students who had special needs and who were fully integrated in my classroom. The things I have learned from them about my own character ...” said Keeler, who lives in Costa Mesa and is up for Teacher of the Year in the Los Alamitos School District, pausing as her emotions caught up with her. “The amount of compassion and patience I learn from kids every day, especially Erin and Noah.”

Keeler has taught for 20 years, 16 of which were in Los Alamitos. Her Teacher of the Year award hasn’t been formally announced by the district yet, but her principal gave her the OK to start accepting some praise.

“It makes me realize that there is an impact, that you touched someone’s heart,” Keeler said. “I’m teacher of the year because I care.”

Gina Tardif, a teacher who works with Keeler, was hired the same year. She feels the award is well-deserved.

“It’s the best thing that’s happened,” she said. “She is very unselfish, always helping other teachers.”

Keeler started working in Parks and Recreation in Costa Mesa. She became an instructional assistant and teachers, seeing her ability, slowly gave her more and more responsibility. Three years later, she went back to school and got her teaching credential.

“The biggest joy is seeing the light bulbs go over kids’ heads and knowing somehow I am making a difference in kids’ lives,” Keeler said.

She tries to create a “sense of community” in her classroom and at the school. She sends e-mails to teachers about educational concepts, takes on numerous tasks and tries to teach the children how to interact with others.

“Children learn from each other, and I from them, and them from me,” she said.

The children tend to agree.

“She helps us when we are down, takes care of us,” said 8-year-old Leah Farhadi.

“If she teaches us something, it’s in a really funny way,” 8-year-old Rukhsar Shahzad said.

And after 20 years, and now the Teacher of the Year, Keeler still has much to accomplish. She doesn’t think teaching really has an end.

“It keeps you fresh and new,” she said. “It’s exciting and new every day.”

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at [email protected].