The Modesto Rotary Club and the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) announced the selection of four local educators as 2025 Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year at the Modesto Rotary luncheon on May 6 at the Double Tree Hotel in Modesto. 

In addition, a Jane Johnston Civility Award was presented to one of the 12 finalists for exemplifying the principles of civility.  

The 2025 Teachers of the Year are Blaker-Kinser Junior High School teacher Carla Escriba selected for the junior high category; Ernesto Hinojosa of Freedom Elementary School in the Sylvan Union School District honored in the TK-third grade category; Kayla Aghassi of Hughes Elementary School in the Empire Union District, who represented the fourth through sixth grade category; and Pitman High School Katie Jeans in the Turlock Unified School District who was the high school category honoree.

The four selected as Teachers of the Year each received a $1,000 cash award from the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation. Mocse Credit Union also sponsored the event and provided funding for the awards.

The Jane Johnston Civility Award was presented to Irene Bautista from Ceres High School in the Ceres Unified School District.  Bautista received a $1,000 cash award from the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County for exemplifying one of the 12 traits of civility. The Civility Award is in honor of Jane Johnston, former SCOE Assistant Superintendent and Education Foundation member.

This is the 26th year that Modesto Rotary and SCOE have joined efforts to honor teachers in Stanislaus County. The program not only honors local teachers and celebrates excellence in education, but also provides an opportunity for teachers to receive state and national recognition. Two of the teachers will be selected, through an interview process, to represent Stanislaus County in the State Teacher of the Year Program. One state winner then proceeds to the national level.

“It’s been a true privilege to partner with Modesto Rotary over the past 26 years to honor educators who guide, support, and inspire our students every day,” said County Superintendent of Schools Scott Kuykendall.

Sponsors of the Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year program include the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation, Stanislaus County Office of Education, and Mocse Credit Union, with additional awards provided by the Association of Stanislaus County School Boards.

Other local teachers who were finalists for the 2025 “Teachers of the Year” included: Melinda King of  Emilie J. Ross Middle in the  Hughson Unified School District and Irene Bautista, a Ceres High School teacher.