Congratulations to three remarkable and extraordinary educators from Los Angeles County who are among five recipients to receive the prestigious honor of being named the 2025 California Teachers of the Year.  

• Matthew Winheim, a middle school STEM Aviation and Mathematics teacher at Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy in the Palmdale Unified School District.
  Superintendent Thurmond nominated Winheim as California’s representative for the National Teacher of the Year competition. Winheim will compete against other state nominees and the 2025 National Teacher of the Year will be announced in the spring.
• Nicholas Westfall, a high school Physical Education teacher at Alexander Hamilton Senior High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. 
• Arby Jean Wolkov, a high school American Sign Language teacher at William Howard Taft Charter High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

"Congratulations to Matthew Winheim, Nicholas Westfall and Arby Jean Wolkov on this well-deserved honor," said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. "Their dedication, innovation and passion for teaching have made a profound impact on our students and community. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the positive influence they continue to have on the future generation."

Additionally, congratulations to the 2025 California Teachers of the Year Finalists from Los Angeles County:  

• Jesse Braun, a middle school Library,Yearbook, and Home Hospital teacher at Beverly Vista Middle School in the Beverly Hills Unified School District. 
• Courtney Franz, a TK to fifth-grade Special Education teacher at Holly Avenue Elementary School in the Arcadia Unified School District.
• Erica Lundy, a fifth-grade multiple-subject Gifted and Highly Gifted teacher at Welby Way Charter Elementary and Gifted-High Ability School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

All county and district winners were celebrated on Friday, September 20, 2024 at the Los Angeles County Office of Education awards banquet.