Sierra View Elementary School third grade teacher Lisa Greenhow has been selected as a finalist for the Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year award for the K-3 division. She is amongst two other kindergarten through third grade teachers in the county who are up for the award.

“This is very exciting, and we have our fingers crossed that Lisa wins in her K-3 category,” said Sierra View Principal Terri Taylor. “No matter what, it is a well-deserved honor for her to have been selected as a finalist.”

Greenhow has taught in Oakdale for 13 years. She started at Cloverland and then transferred to Sierra View once it opened.

Greenhow is humble about her selection as a finalist.

“It’s nice… It’s always nice to have somebody say you’re doing a good job,” she said.

She added that she knows and works with “a lot of fabulous teachers” who impress her.

She views her teaching as “a little different.” As an example, Greenhow reported that she has a number of taxidermy animals on display in her classroom, which were brought in, that allow for her students to touch them and see details up close. She said it creates a pull for them into third grade science and it helps their whole world to expand. She also said that building good relationships with her students and their families is a strength she values.

Greenhow was nominated by Taylor and was observed by district staff. Then a committee from the county visited her classroom on March 16 and observed her in the classroom, observing groups in the class and also spoke with some of her students.

She said her students knew in advance about the committee visit and suggested to each other that they get dressed up for the day, but she convinced them that she just wanted them to be normal.

The Teacher of the Year award is given to one teacher from kindergarten through third, fourth through sixth, junior high, and high school divisions.

All finalists will be honored at the Teacher of the Year Rotary luncheon on May 3 at the Doubletree, Modesto.