Jodi Superstar: A Special Teacher of the Year

One of several publications that announced the 2022 Orange County (CA) Teachers of the Year referred to winner Jodi Balma, Political Science instructor as a “superstar.” Her award caught MOTAL’s attention, for Jodi teaches at Fullerton College, not far from headquarters of The Museum of Teaching and Learning. Jodi was honored, along with five teachers selected from elementary and high schools throughout the county. This article explores how she became a teacher in the first place, what qualities led to her selection, and how the process of being nominated and selected actually worked.


Unlike the five K-12 awardees, who were further evaluated to compete at the state level, Jodi’s community-college path stops at the county. Orange County is rather unusual in honoring a community college instructor at all. She is not eligible to be considered for the California Teacher of the Year, nor does she have an opportunity to go to the national level. Still, each of the six OC winners received an apple-themed trophy (See MOTAL archived article about Apple for the Teacher) and a check for $20,000 from the Orange County Teacher of the Year Foundation plus another for $500 from Schools First Federal Credit Union.• A celebration dinner for the 58 teachers nominated by their school districts is scheduled to take place in April at the Disneyland Hotel. Protections from Covid have postponed or changed the in-person celebrations typical in the past.

Jodi has always lived in California, but her childhood was not spent in Fullerton. She comes from a family of teachers - three of her four grandparents, and her mother were all educators. They lived in the small city of Turlock, a small agricultural town in California’s Central Valley. Her father was a dentist who loved history and their home was filled with books and an atmosphere of “Let’s find the answer” before people had the easy opportunity to google questions. To Jodi, the adults in her life demonstrated that teaching is guiding young people to discovery.


Jodi’s own teachers were models and mentors. She has many fond memories of, and has stayed in touch with, several of her teachers from kindergarten, fourth grade, six grade, and high school English, Science, and History.


“The teachers we had in the Turlock School District were incredible and I think a large reason so many of my classmates chose teaching as well. We were taught by the best, like Diana Pool, Daryl Morgan, Marta Kyte, Eric Julien, Wayne Hinds, Trudy Bryan, and the legendary Ms. Dillman, along with so many others.”


Their influences led her to choose History as her major when she went away to college at California State University, Fullerton where she encountered incredible professors. Long before graduation, she realized that her goal of becoming a high school history teacher was not going to work because it would require working with young teenagers for the rest of her life. She used her skills of verbal communication and organization to work for the university’s annual fund where she had the opportunity to talk with alumni and discover the career options for history majors. She also worked closely with Director Betsy Gibbs at the CSUF Children’s Center as they launched a campaign to build a new facility. In the process, Betsy became another model and mentor of how to teach and how to lead through compassion.

When Jodi’s interests in the community and politics grew, she came to see that the community college level would be ideal for her. Because instructors at that level are not required to earn teaching credentials, many of the necessary skills must be gained from positive models and reading widely about effective teaching. She turned to her professors at CSUF, Dr. Keith Boyum, Dr. Phil Gianos, Dr. Bert Buzan, Dr. Barbara Stone, Dr. Sandra Sutphen, and others who became her mentors and guided her through the first years of teaching at her alma mater. She had always found inspiration in other educators, but one of her mentors gave her the advice that defined her early teaching mantra, and she has suggested this procedure to others:

1. Recall all your teachers, kindergarten through college.
2. Write down the qualities you loved about them and the things that you enjoyed.
3. Write the things that you did NOT like, made you unhappy, seemed ineffective.
4. Set out to do the things that you loved.
5. Promise not to do the things that you did not like.

Being nominated came as a surprise to Jodi. The community college process begins with students. They may nominate a former teacher, an outstanding instructor from the past. The teacher is notified, and asked to submit an application packet that includes a statement of teaching philosophy, and letters of recommendation from students and fellow faculty members.


Jodi said, “I work with so many incredible, inspiring professors. I don’t know how the committee can ever pick just one teacher to honor.”


Jodi enacts a belief that her classes should have real-world connections. Her job is to show the relevance of the topics and information to reveal


“This is your life. You can make a difference in your community if you get involved.”


She has students spend time in meetings with the city council, school board, and with legislators in Sacramento. Watching elected officials in action helps amplify lessons from written materials. Jodi also believes in the importance of building rapport with her students, understanding what their lives are like and how assignments can sometimes play to their strengths. She makes time to listen. And, for sure, she knows that to be a good teacher, she must demonstrate a personal passion for the subject, showing enthusiasm in the classroom and out in the community.

However, since starting at Fullerton College in 2000, Jodi has taught American Government, Honors American Government, Contemporary Issues in American Politics, California Governments, and Capitol Field Trip. Like most individuals who teach full-time at the college-level she also had extra responsibilities on campus. In her case, she was the advisor to the Political Science Student Association, Pre-Law Society, YWCA of FC, Queer People of Color, and AGS. She has also served as the Coordinator of the Political Science Honors Program since 2010.


Jodi has brought countless guest speakers to campus over the last two decades. In February 2020, Zoe Nicholson performed "Tea with Zoe" celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the incredible work of Miss Alice Paul and others to guarantee women's suffrage.

As many education commentators note, teaching is a profession mostly conducted behind closed doors. Teachers’ methods and accomplishments are known by their students’ reflections, their own public comments, and the observations of the few individuals who are privileged to see classes in action. Their work is difficult and extends into hours before, and after, the appointed hours in the classroom. Athletes have newspaper sections devoted to their work and jumbotrons flashing their images to thousands of spectators. Teachers have the satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of students and, sometimes, are recognized by awards such as the Teacher of the Year. MOTAL is glad to spread the news about this award and one special person.
 
Submitted by Greta Nagel, PhD


In addition
MOTAL is pleased to have other award-winning teachers among its supporters: Board member Eva Postma, and long-time supporter, Fred Lentz.


Also, not long after starting our investigation of Teacher of the Year, we realized that another county winner was selected from Fullerton. Sovantevy Long-Laatteri, is a high-school special education teacher. Stay tuned!


Award funds from The Jeff and Jenny Gross Family Foundation; Schools First Federal Credit Union


You will enjoy this link. Just click!
https://newsroom.ocde.us/ocde-announces-the-2022-orange-county-teachers-of-the-year/


Jodi Balma is OC’s Teacher of the Year | Fullerton College News Center
https://news.fullcoll.edu/jodi-balma-is-ocs-teacher-of-the-year/