In 2022, the Diocese of Orange introduced the St. Elizabeth Seton Ann Seton Teacher of the Year Award in order to celebrate Catholic educators who have fostered the spiritual and academic growth of their students. Nominated by their colleagues, teachers at Mater Dei have been recognized for this honor each year. As they continue to cultivate the education and well-being of future generations, these educators have served significant roles in carrying out the Catholic faith within their contributions. 

English Department Chair Eunice Kim was selected as a finalist for the Teacher of the Year Award in 2024. Now in her 15th year of teaching, Kim reflects on how she was initially inspired to pursue English by the encouragement of her high school teacher. It is through this suggestion, paired with a natural gift for teaching, that Kim decided to further her education at New York University and acquired a New York State teaching credential within four years. Growing in her knowledge over the years and being able to share her skills with others, Kim is deeply grateful for this recognition.

“It reminds me that I’m where I’m supposed to be, and I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, so it’s humbling and it’s encouraging,” Kim said.

The opportunity to work with students has fueled Kim’s passion for teaching, in which she’s been able to engage with younger generations through meaningful conversations. In the hopes to connect with her students on a deeper level, Kim strives to create a safe and welcoming environment that nurtures student needs and allows them to reach their full potential.

“I keep my door open so that students know that they can come and approach me, whether it’s about my class, whether it’s about something that they need help with outside of my class, and just opening up those lines of communication and making sure that they know that those lines of communication are open,” Kim said. 

Kim’s approach to each lesson plan is rooted in the love and care she has for the classes she teaches. Ensuring that the well-being of each student is at the center of her teaching values, Kim does not see her students as a number, but rather as individuals with unique experiences.

“I hope that even when I have to be more strict, that [students] can recognize the purpose behind it, because we’ve developed a relationship of trust, develop a relationship of understanding and respect–that [I] am teaching them because I do care and I want them to learn these things for x and y reasons,” Kim said.

Chosen as the 2023 finalist for the Teacher of the Year Award, World Languages Teacher Jennifer Battaglia has been an American Sign Language (ASL) educator at Mater Dei for ten years now. Battaglia initially learned ASL at the age of six in her elementary school and knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career involving the language. Seeking higher education, she attended Cal State Northridge to acquire her bachelors degree in Deaf Studies and a single subject teaching credential, as well as Western Governors University for her masters degree in curriculum and instruction. Attaining these achievements has presented Battaglia the fortune to lay a foundation for understanding communication among hearing and non-hearing communities. 

“I think it’s really important that we use our hearing privilege to speak up for the deaf community,” Battaglia said. “They have welcomed me and have had a huge impact on my life, and so this is my way of giving back to the deaf community, teaching hearing students ASL, to the best of my abilities and their abilities to hopefully bridge that gap between the Deaf world and the hearing.”

As the only American Sign Language teacher on Mater Dei’s campus, Battaglia has been able to form particular lesson plans and projects that require students to be involved and utilize their language skills in the world. Assignments like watching TV without captions, learning about deaf history, and wearing sound eliminating headphones for a day are integral to the ASL curriculum. Through this work, she hopes to empower students to develop a broader understanding of the deaf community.

“I try to teach my students that deaf people are human,” Battagia said. “We try to look at the person as a whole and not just focus on their deafness and that they can do anything a hearing person can, and I try to show them that, so that they’re not focusing on just the disability.”

Religious Studies Teacher Benjamin De Los Reyes was selected the winner of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Teacher of the Year Award in 2022. After completing two years at Long Beach City College, De Los Reyes completed his undergraduate and masters at the University of San Diego. It is through teaching that De Los Reyes has found a bigger purpose in working toward God’s mission. 

“The nature of schools is optimism for the future,” De Los Reyes said. “Young people are preparing for their dreams for the future, and as teachers, we are optimistic about who the students are becoming, and that our students are contributing to making the world a better place. What inspires me as a teacher is to be, in a small way, contributing to God’s project in the world, which is making the world a little more of a slice of heaven.”

In his classroom, De Los Reyes continues to follow a teaching model that aims to build authentic relationships and an environment where students feel valued. He creates assignments where students interact and learn about each other’s perspectives on world issues, promoting a sense of unity even despite differing opinions.

“[What makes a good teacher is someone that] values the life experience and wisdom of their students, who wants to not only hear about their students point of view, but also provide opportunities for students to learn from each other’s point of view,” De Los Reyes said. 

As these teachers continue to pave a path for future classes to hone in their critical thinking skills, they prepare students to conquer real world challenges. One of De Los Reyes’s main goals for the future is to improve student engagement in classrooms.

“[I hope that students] be more curious, ask more questions, and have better class discussions,” De Los Reyes said. “[I want to] make the class more vibrant with interest and engagement, because I think one of the few of the problems that I’m seeing a lot of are burnout in students—students trying to get through the day rather than embracing the day.”

De Los Reyes’s emphasis on student engagement also goes hand-in-hand with Kim’s plan for the classroom. Kim aspires to enrich respectful conversation that gathers different perspectives and ideas, while also reinforcing personal beliefs. She hopes that by creating this space, students can find their personal voice. 

“I hope that they also learn the importance of listening to others, to be respectful, to have an open mind, and to stand their ground for the things that they believe in,” Kim said.