Classified Employee of the Year Winners
Angie Cruz
Library Media Technician
Stuart Mesa
Angie Cruz has been a Library Media Technician at Stuart Mesa for five years. Her presence is easily noticed by students and parents at the start of the day when she is often dressed up in a fun costume to greet the community during drop off. She uses this time to identify students who may need extra support to have a successful day and will reach out to the school counselor or the student’s teacher when needed. Ms. Cruz is on a mission to get students to love reading. She thoughtfully selects engaging books and lessons to share with the school. She is intentional in her choices, ensuring her lessons reflect and support diversity and inclusion, including monthly heritage recognitions such as Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. She has also been thoughtful in the layout of her library to ensure accessibility for students with special needs. Angie Cruz will be representing OUSD in the county competition for Employee of the Year.
Felicia Andrade
Campus Security
Surfside Educational Academy
Felicia Andrade has been a dedicated part of OUSD for 25 years serving as Campus Security. Ms. Andrade stands out at Surfside Academy because her service extends far beyond the workplace. She leads with heart, humility, and purpose. Each morning, she greets students by name at the school gate, showing every child that they belong. Her gift for connection fosters trust, reduces conflicts, and builds stronger relationships in and out of the classroom. Her quiet leadership grounds the school’s community in respect and care. Ms. Andrade’s generosity takes a tangible form each holiday season. For two months, she mobilizes community partnerships to gather donations, including clothes, shoes, jewelry, and more, then personally organizes a “pop-up shop” where families can shop at no cost. This event, fueled entirely by her volunteer hours and persistence, transforms the holiday season for students and their loved ones. Felicia’s attitude is one of gratitude and continuous giving. She treats her job not as a checklist of duties, but as a meaningful opportunity to serve.
Teacher of the Year Winners
Jeremy Sherwin
Science
Chávez Middle School
Strong pedagogy, supportive relationships, and a deep commitment to equity define Jeremy Sherwin’s impact in Oceanside. With 15 years of middle school experience, Mr. Sherwin joined Chávez Middle School in 2023. He brings a student-centered approach and authenticity to his classroom. Mr. Sherwin believes teaching is about shaping people, not just delivering content. He strives to be a positive role model while strengthening relationships and sparking curiosity through real-world scientific phenomena. His strong pedagogical knowledge engages even reluctant learners in inquiry-based instruction grounded in science and engineering practices. He has also partnered with district science leaders to develop clear, student-friendly rubrics that build ownership and agency in learning, ensuring every student has a pathway to success. Mr. Sherwin strives to create an environment where students feel safe to wonder, question, and take intellectual risks. Students often describe him as calm, kind, and funny. These are qualities he intentionally cultivates because he believes learning happens best when students feel respected, supported, and at ease.
Abby Apolinar
Fourth Grade
Libby Elementary School
For over 30 years, Abby Apolinar has embodied the essence of an outstanding educator. She is dedicated, innovative, compassionate, and driven by an unwavering commitment to student success. As a National Board Certified Teacher, Ms. Apolinar continuously strives to refine her practice and adapt to evolving educational needs. Her professional-growth mindset is evident through her consistent participation in professional development sessions. She not only engages in ongoing learning herself but also generously shares her newly-gained knowledge and instructional strategies with peers across grade levels, uplifting the entire Libby community.
Abby’s teaching excellence is demonstrated daily in her classroom. Her lessons are intentionally structured, breaking down complex concepts into manageable components so that all students, regardless of readiness level, can access and master the content. Her careful scaffolding ensures that no student is left behind, while her creative integration of technology into her lessons elicits active student engagement to learning. She designs original resources that align with the Benchmark curriculum and provides her students with multiple, meaningful opportunities to practice the unit’s target standards.
