Reed district honors teachers, staff at end-of-year celebration

The Reed Union School District’s Celebration of Education award winners included, front from left, Alex Ikandu; Hilary Olsen of Reed Elementary School; Lisa Conlon of Bel Aire Elementary School; Amy Smith of Del Mar Middle School; and Marjan Sobhani and Jesus Dominguez of Bel Aire; and, rear from left, DJ Wade of Del Mar; Melissa Daymond, Cristina Lopez and Janet Raiche of Reed; Janet Cerni of Del Mar; and (top right) Nicole Ford, Reed. With them is Superintendent Kimberly McGrath (top second right). (Elliot Karlan / For The Ark)

Reed Elementary School second-grade teacher Cristina Lopez is known around campus for her dedication to both her students and her colleagues, says Principal Mary Niesyn.

In addition to fostering a classroom environment that inspires and nurtures kids, Lopez has been a driving force behind the Reed Union School District’s equity and inclusion efforts, serving as a grade-level coordinator on the district’s inclusion committee and leading professional development on the topic at Reed Elementary.

“We are evolving as a school community and a team of educators in no small part due to (her) leadership,” Niesyn says.

For her efforts, Lopez was named the district’s Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022. She was one of more than a dozen teachers, classified staff and retirees honored at the district’s year-end Celebration of Education, which was held May 18 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Belvedere.

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