Chauncey Veatch shares his honors with four other CTA members who were also named Teachers of the Year in January:
Carol Brouhle, a member of the Huntington Beach Unified High School District Education Association, teaches mathematics at Westminster High School. She has been a teacher for 24 years. Her bachelor's degree is from the University of Hawaii and her master's in education is from the University of Illinois.
Brouhle's parents were first-generation Japanese immigrants who came to the U.S. to work in the cane fields of Hawaii. Childhood experiences convinced Brouhle that it is possible to educate children of varying backgrounds and develop each person to his or her fullest potential so that all can participate equally in any activity.
One of her accomplishments has been to implement a magnet program for students interested in careers in math, science and technology. Students spend their first two years in an intensive math/science/technology-based curriculum and spend their last two years on mentoring and volunteer activities in the community.
Mary Eileen Geer, a member of the Teachers Association of West Covina, teaches reading, physical education and math at Merlinda Elementary School.
A 14-year veteran teacher, Geer says she has known since third grade that she wanted to become a positive leader. She believes the most important aspects of teaching and learning are involvement, empowerment, respect and classroom management. If a class lacks them, materials alone will not get students achieving at their highest level.
Geer has served as a mentor and a Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment support provider. She started the student council, family education events, a book club, tutoring, volunteer and peer reading programs and a variety of athletic and student events.
Janet Gower, a member of the Mount Diablo Education Association, teaches health careers at Ygnacio Valley High School. She earned her bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley in 1975 in dramatic art and received a nursing degree from Los Medanos College in 1983.
One of the highlights of her career is overseeing the participation of students in Health Occupations Students of America, an organization that is integral to health careers education. It is a co-curricular program that encourages leadership and personal development for all health career students. As the organization's advisor, Gower has seen student membership grow from 18 to more than 123 members.
Gower serves as a facilitator for the National Health Science Career Path Model. She won the NurseWeek Journal RN Excellence Award and the Most Inspirational Teacher Award from her high school's student body.
Marvin N. Inmon, a member of the Anaheim Elementary Education Association and 27-year veteran teacher, teaches severely handicapped students at James M. Guinn Elementary School. He earned his bachelor's degree in religion and philosophy from Chapman University in 1973. He has earned two master's degrees, one of which is in marriage, family and child counseling, and is currently working on a third in special education.
Inmon has earned several awards, written many publications, and served as consultant to Indian reservations where he has trained leaders, tribal police, teachers and parents.
Over the years, he has participated in the Cherokee Language and Culture Institute and has conducted training at the university level in technology. He has also worked with the Multicultural Commission and the Native American Lutheran Association.
