1 minute read
A Wall of Accomplishments
The Accolade recollects the achievements art teacher and International Baccalaureate coordinator Brian Wall made during his 32 years in position.
l 1991 - Hired as art teacher l 1992-2003 - Served as adviser for Helios l 2000 - Appointed department chairman for visual arts l 2007 - Began advising for International Baccalaureate program l 2006-2013 - Coached junior varisty girls soccer l 2010 - Started Conservatory of Fine Arts at Sunny Hills l 2016 - Announced SH Teacher of the Year l 2017 - Earned Top 25 Teachers in Orange County by Parenting OC Magazine l 2020 - Awarded Yale Educator Award l 2022 - Announced SH Teacher of the Year will result in finding someone who’ll be the right fit.
Advertisement
“No. 1, [the new coordinator] has got to love the kids, and No. 2, they need to believe in the mission and philosophy of IB,” he said. “Then finally, [the new coordinator] has to have some organization skills to administer everything, and technology is important, too, [because] there is a lot of organization and technical stuff needed.”
Veteran, second-year staffer named teacher, employee of the year
CHRISTOPHER LEE Staff Reporter
One has worked at Sunny Hills High School for 32 years, while the other only two.
Despite the gap in their work experience, SH staff recognized both as the campus’ employees of the year at a Jan. 18 lunchtime ceremony in the teachers lounge.
“I kind of figured that I won it already [in the 2015-2016 school year] and figured that it would go to someone else,” said art teacher Brian Wall, International Baccalaureate [IB] coordinator and Conservatory of Fine Arts [COFA] director. “I was definitely surprised and humbled by it, too.”
Wall first started teaching here in 1991. Besides his current titles, the 32-year veteran, who on Jan. 17 announced his retirement at the end of this school year, has also taught Spanish and advised the Helios yearbook.
“I think everybody wants to end their career on a great note,” he said. “It really couldn’t be better.”
The other employee of the year nod was awarded to site technician Anthony Jara, who was first hired in the 2021-2022 school year when the campus opened back up for in-person instruction.
Jara said Principal Craig Weinreich asked him to come to the staff lounge during lunch to video record the employees of the year announcement.
