Wendy Saldivar, front row, joins students, family members, school and district staff, OCDE representatives and program partners for a group photo outside Loara Elementary School following her surprise Teacher of the Year announcement in April. 
Wendy Saldivar, a fifth-grade teacher at Loara Elementary School in Anaheim, reacts as Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean surprises her with the news that she has been named a 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year in April. 
Wendy Saldivar poses with Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean after receiving her 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year award during a surprise classroom visit in April. 
Wendy Saldivar, right, celebrates with members of the Gross family after receiving a $25,000 award from the Orange County Teachers of the Year Award Foundation during the April surprise announcement at Loara Elementary School. 
Wendy Saldivar celebrates with family members following the surprise announcement of her selection as a 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year. 
Anaheim Elementary School District Superintendent Jesús Chavarria congratulates Wendy Saldivar during the April surprise announcement at Loara Elementary School. 
Wendy Saldivar, center, celebrates with her students and family members outside Loara Elementary School after being named a 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year in April.
Quick look: Wendy Saldivar of Loara Elementary School in Anaheim has been named one of five 2027 California Teachers of the Year. Fellow Orange County educator Brittany Walters of Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary School was also recognized as a state finalist.
Two Orange County educators are receiving statewide recognition for their dedication to students, with Anaheim Elementary School District teacher Wendy Saldivar earning one of California’s highest honors in education.
Saldivar, a fifth-grade Spanish dual immersion teacher at Loara Elementary School, was named one of five 2027 California Teachers of the Year on Thursday, Oct. 8, by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
Brittany Walters, a kindergarten teacher at Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary School in the Magnolia School District was also recognized as one of four finalists for the statewide honor.
Both educators were among six teachers named Orange County Teachers of the Year in April, when the Orange County Department of Education surprised honorees at their campuses with visits from County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean, program sponsors and members of their school communities.
Making learning meaningful
For Saldivar, teaching is about helping students build confidence, embrace challenges and recognize their own potential.
With 12 years of teaching experience, she creates opportunities for students to strengthen their Spanish and English skills while exploring math, science and other subjects through hands-on activities.
In her classroom, students might write math problems directly on their desks with dry-erase markers, build three-dimensional animal models to explore volume, or work together to explain different approaches to solving problems.
Saldivar also extends learning beyond the classroom by organizing family engagement activities, including Think Like an Engineer Night, which connects students with bilingual professionals working in science, technology, engineering and math.
“Watching my students leave my classroom empowered as learners, leaders and contributors to their community is the most inspirational part of my work,” Saldivar said when she was recognized at the county level in April.
Brittany Walters, a kindergarten teacher at Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary School in the Magnolia School District, reacts as guests enter her classroom to surprise her with the news that she has been named a 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year in April. 
Brittany Walters, second from left, poses with Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean, seated, and representatives from premier sponsor SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union after receiving her 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year award. 
Magnolia School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Donavan congratulates Brittany Walters during the April surprise announcement at Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary School. 
Brittany Walters embraces one of her kindergarten students during a celebration of her selection as a 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year at Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary School. 
Brittany Walters, center, celebrates with her students, family members, school and district administrators, and Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean following her surprise Teacher of the Year announcement in April.
Walters, meanwhile, brings 17 years of experience to her kindergarten class at Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary, where she emphasizes academic growth alongside students’ social and emotional development.
Her approach includes hands-on lessons, strong family connections and opportunities for students to build confidence through creative activities. She also helped establish a partnership through Disney Musicals in Schools, expanding access to performing arts experiences for students.
“What ultimately sets Mrs. Walters apart is her consistency and passion,” Principal Alma Guzman said during the county recognition. “The enthusiasm she brings in August remains in June. She shows up fully for students every day.”
Recognizing California’s educators
Along with Saldivar, the 2027 California Teachers of the Year are Katie Andan of La Costa Heights Elementary School in the Encinitas Union School District in San Diego County; Gagik Galfayan of Woodrow Wilson Middle School in the Glendale Unified School District in Los Angeles County; Edmund Maino of Tehachapi High School in the Tehachapi Unified School District in Kern County; and Ashley Uraine of Yucaipa High School in the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program in San Bernardino County.
Andan was also selected as California’s nominee for the 2027 National Teacher of the Year competition, with the national recipient expected to be announced in the spring.
“California’s Teachers of the Year represent the very best of our profession. They see the potential in every student and work each day to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed,” Thurmond said in the state announcement.
Established in 1972, the California Teachers of the Year program is presented by the California Department of Education with support from the California Teachers of the Year Foundation. It recognizes outstanding educators whose work makes a difference for students, schools and communities.
County offices of education nominate candidates for the state program following their own county-level competitions. A state Department of Education committee reviews applications, interviews educators and evaluates their classroom environments, teaching techniques and relationships with students before the state superintendent selects the final honorees.
Saldivar and Walters will join their fellow Orange County Teachers of the Year at the county’s annual recognition gala Nov. 13 at the Disneyland Hotel. Saldivar will also be honored alongside the other 2027 California Teachers of the Year at a statewide gala this winter.
For more information about the statewide recognition program, visit the California Department of Education’s Teachers of the Year webpage.