GGUSD Teachers Recognized as Top Educators in Orange County

• Thursday, April 11, 2024

 

Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) teachers, including Jordanna Jahn at Irvine Intermediate School and Ji Sun Kim at Faylane Elementary School, were selected as semifinalists in the 2025 Orange County Department of Education Teacher of the Year recognition program. They are among 15 teachers from across Orange County selected for this distinction. 

Kim began teaching in GGUSD in 2000 and has been at Faylane Elementary School for the last four years where she teaches fourth grade, serves as the school’s Tech Coordinator and is an MTSS Coach, among other leadership roles. Kim shared in her application how she immigrated to the U.S. from Korea when she was a child and has used her experiences to help all students feel a sense of belonging in her classroom.

Jahn began teaching in GGUSD in 1996 and currently teaches English Language Arts, World History and AVID.  Jahn is the school’s AVID Coordinator, manages the Scholars in Training after-school intervention, supports PBIS and the Drama Club, and much more. She is known for her ability to empower and connect with students, creating a classroom where students feel safe and valued.

“We are so proud of our teachers for being recognized as among the best in Orange County and are always inspired by their unparalleled dedication to student success,” said Board of Education President Teri Rocco. “This recognition is a testament to their hard work, and the lasting positive impact our teachers make each day in the lives of their students.”

GGUSD’s three nominees for the 2025 Orange County Teacher of the Year Program include Jahn, Kim and Marshall Elementary School Teacher Theresa Miguel. All three nominees will be recognized at a GGUSD Board of Education meeting as well as at the Orange County Department of Education Teacher of the Year Gala at the Disneyland Resort in the fall.

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