By Traci Newell

Joe Hu/Town Crier Roberta Pyne, honored as Los Altos School District’s Teacher of the Year, works with Max Sawyer in her second-grade classroom at Oak Avenue Elementary School.

It’s not uncommon to see students at Los Altos High School dropping in on Dee Dee Pearce, social studies teacher, for a quick counseling session between classroom periods.

It’s also not uncommon to see Roberta Pyne, second-grade teacher at Oak Avenue Elementary School, sporting a crown, playing “Queen of Carryover” to teach regrouping in math to her students.

Their peers recognized Pearce and Pyne as Teachers of the Year in their respective districts for their unique teaching abilities. They were honored Sept. 25 at the 37th annual Teacher Recognition Day sponsored by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

“I’m really fortunate to have a great staff and great kids,” Pearce said, holding back tears. “I was just doing what I needed to do, and I never thought I’d get recognition for it.”

Pearce began working for Los Altos High 21 years ago as a bilingual instructional aide. Nine years ago she decided to earn her teaching credential. She has taught social studies at Los Altos High ever since.

“I love it,” Pearce said. “The most rewarding part is working with young people who are so open-minded, idealistic and eager to learn. It’s rewarding to watch them grow.”

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Pearce attempts to be involved in as many extracurricular activities as possible. She is an adviser for the school’s Mock Trial team, a mentor to beginning teachers, a co-adviser for Girls for a Change and has served as class adviser for two four-year periods.

“I have always been one of those people who love to learn and to do,” Pearce said. “It’s also my role as a teacher here to touch all the aspects of education, including activities outside the classroom - it’s my responsibility to be complete.”

Pearce and her family moved to Mountain View from Buffalo N.Y., more than 20 years ago.

“Often high school is a rough time in students’ lives,” Pearce said. “They are going through so many changes, it’s nice to be able to help and make everything OK for them.”

Pyne, who teaches at Oak, has been around education her whole life. Her father was a teacher and her mother was a teacher’s aide. Her two brothers are also teachers.

“I have always known I’ve wanted to be a teacher,” Pyne said. “Education was not forced down my throat as a child - it was my life.”

Pyne attended local schools; she went to elementary school at Purissima, junior high at Covington and high school at Los Altos. She has been teaching for just over 20 years.

Though Pyne now teaches second grade, she has also taught first grade. Before she taught at Oak, Pyne taught at Springer Elementary School. Pyne said she enjoys teaching the primary grades because of the innocence and youth the students exude.

“Learning for the students is a discovery,” Pyne said. “They can’t just have it handed to them.”

Pyne originally pursued an acting career, receiving an undergraduate degree in theatre arts. She now uses theatre arts to make the curriculum more exciting for her students. Pyne’s flair for the dramatic manifests when she becomes “Queen of Carryover” or the “Bossy Borrower” to help students learn math.

“When your students are learning, successful and happy to come to school, you know they are enjoying school and enjoying the knowledge they gain from coming to class,” she said.

In addition to teaching, Pyne is president of the Los Altos Teachers Association this year. Pyne said her father, who often worked with the California Teacher’s Association when she was younger, inspired her to become president this year.

“Now I can help teachers, the community and the students by working as my local chapter president,” Pyne said. “We are fortunate to already have strong communication between the administration and the teachers.”