We are delighted to announce our November 2024 Teacher of the Month! Sarah Pantoja is a Spanish immersion kindergarten teacher at Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School. We are honored to recognize Maestra Sarah for her unwavering dedication to her students, school, and community!
At Flynn Elementary, Maestra Sarah creates a warm and joyful learning environment that is simply inspiring. Her dedication to building strong phonics foundations means her students, including many English language learners in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Spanish program, are ready for first grade and beyond. She makes learning fun by incorporating movement and songs into her lessons.
By teaching her students catchy tunes, she helps them remember key concepts while keeping their energy up. Her incredible talent for playing the piano and ukulele adds an extra layer of fun, turning phonics and language learning into memorable, interactive experiences. In Maestra Sarah’s classroom, every child feels supported and excited to learn!
One parent says, “Ms. Sarah is doing miracles with the little resources she has. She is a young teacher but has a promising career ahead of her.”
During the first week of school, Maestra Sarah took the time to call every parent to check in and share how their child was doing. This kind of communication is so important! It helps parents feel involved and reassured that their little ones are adjusting well. What’s even more special is that Maestra Sarah records her lessons and sends them home with clear explanations. This way, parents can easily support their child’s learning outside of school, keeping the family connected to what’s happening in the classroom.
Another parent says, “For families, especially those with kids in the Dual Language Immersion program, her effort to keep everyone in the loop makes a huge difference. She always sends resources in English and Spanish and builds community with all the parents.”
Maestra Sarah loves to use all sorts of fun activities, like art, music, and field trips. She even lets kids choose their seats or sit in two squares on the rug if they need extra space to move. She’s all about flexibility and understanding; kids can sit with their feet up and heads down as long as they’re paying attention and learning.
Another parent says, “It is refreshing to have a teacher that lets kids be instead of telling kids to sit straight all day long. She’s just so wonderful! It’s incredible to see her students shine and enjoy learning with her dedication and passion for kinder students.”
Meet other Teacher of the Month awardees, and nominate a special SFUSD teacher in your life.