Preuss School Teacher Named among Five San Diego County “Teachers of the Year”

October 14, 2009

By Pat JaCoby

Kelly Kovacic, social studies department chair at UC San Diego’s Preuss School

Kelly Kovacic, social studies department chair at UC San Diego’s Preuss School, has been selected as one of five San Diego County “Teachers of the Year” and will contend in state Teacher of the Year awards next month.

The annual county competition recognizes exemplary teachers from among the 25,000 who work in the county’s public schools. The five winners were selected from 47 nominees.

Kovacic teaches 11th and 12th grade social studies at The Preuss School, a middle and high school dedicated to providing intensive college-preparatory education for motivated low-income students who will become the first in their families to graduate from college.

While a UC San Diego college senior, Kovacic served as a volunteer at the Preuss School during its founding year, 1999-2000. After graduating from UCSD she received her master’s degree in education at Stanford University.

Noted Scott Barton, Preuss School principal, “Kelly has the perfect qualities of a teacher. She is compassionate, yet inspires excellence with high expectations.”

Kovacic said she believes teachers have to build “a safe learning environment that allows the student to achieve his or her full academic potential. I feel lucky to teach at Preuss and work every day with our amazing students.”

Media Contact: Pat JaCoby, 858-534-7404 or pjacoby@ucsd.edu