826 Valencia is proud to announce that Emily Lewis is the December teacher of the month. She teaches at the Treasure Island School. Please read what folks from her community had to say about her:

"She even brought us rock climbing. It was very safe. No one got hurt and it was fun. That field trip taught me that if you try you might make it. For example, when I looked at the wall I felt this cold shiver thinking that I will never make it, but I did.  I never knew I could do that."
– Harry Chiu

"Ms. Lewis should be teacher of the month... We have done like a ton of fun projects with her.  We did a project of regions, a project of famous African Americans, a project of immigrants, a project of the earth, and lots more projects."
– Veronica Garcia

"We do a lot of essays that are pretty interesting. She always makes us do essays on interesting things and not just boring things... My mom thinks I write like my older brother in college and you can thank Ms. Lewis."
– Harry Chiu

"Emily researched and found professionals (mostly of Latino background) who came to the classroom and spoke to the children about their jobs as airline pilots, F.B.I agents, lawyers, and scientists to name a few. The adults gave a great deal of time and energy to the students, and meeting them and hearing about their careers was a highlight of the children's year...Some of the professionals, impressed and moved by their visit, came back a second time and have said that they'd like to continue coming to speak to the kids each year."
– Lisbeth Benniger

"She routinely refers to the students not by their grade, but by their year of college graduation 'Class of 2015, please put your chairs up and check the floor for trash'"
– Lisbeth Benniger