Anna Sabalone Named
Lake County Teacher of the Year

LAKE COUNTY, CALIF (May 11, 2023) — Anna Sabalone, Art, AVID, Academic Decathlon, and Humanities Teacher at Upper Lake High School, is named Lake County Teacher of the Year for 2023.

“Anna Sabalone is a transformational leader at Upper Lake High School. She is small but mighty,” said Annie Pivniska Petrie, Principal for Upper Lake High School. “Her school and team can always count on her for steady leadership, insight and guidance.”

Sabalone received notification of the honor on Thursday, May 11, 2023, during Teacher Appreciation Week. Her students and colleagues gathered at the Upper Lake High School, where she was presented with the Teacher of the Year plaque and flowers.

Sabalone was chosen as the ULUSD Teacher of the Year in March. In late April, Sabalone participated in an interview at the Lake County Office of Education. She was chosen from a group of four other Lake County District Teachers of the Year to represent Lake County at the California Teacher of the Year competition this fall.

Three out of the five 2023 District Teachers of the Year are Lake County high school alumni. The other District Teachers of the Year include:

Joni Falkenberg — Kelseyville Unified School District
Rachel Weidner — Konocti Unified School District
Sandi Morton — Lakeport Unified School District
Jon Prather — Middletown Unified School District

Sabalone became a full-time teacher after realizing she had a passion for sharing knowledge during her time as a substitute teacher. Sabalone says, “I wanted to help the youth of my home learn that there are no limits but that which we place upon ourselves.”

Sabalone started her teaching career at Upper Lake High School 15 years ago. There she has taught Art, AVID and Academic Decathlon/Humanities. She also teaches Art History at Mendocino Community College.

Outside of the classroom, Sabalone coaches the Upper Lake High School Mock Trial team, where she led the team to be state finalist in 2021.

Sabalone feels fortunate to have the opportunity to inspire current and past students by fostering an atmosphere of exploration and refusing to allow students to give up or place limits on their abilities.

“My students, and all they do with their lives in school, and after they graduate is my greatest contribution and accomplishment Their success is my joy,” Sabalone said. “My contribution is in inspiring a life-long love of learning.”

Engaged, collaborative, creative chaos is how Sabalone fosters student success in the classroom she said. This allows students to push themselves and each other, utilize their resources, provide feedback and ask questions to dig deeper into the content.

“Ms. Sabalone’s students are excelling in college and beyond. It is not uncommon for graduates to stop by and “See Ms. Sab,” Petrie said. “She helps all students succeed, no matter their circumstance.”

Members of the interview panel included: Rebecca Walker, Deputy Superintendent of Schools; Rena Roush, Lake County Teacher of the Year 2022; Jennifer Kelley, former Lake County and California Teacher of the Year; Alan Siegel, former Lake County and California Teacher of the Year; Erica Boomer, former Lake County and California Teacher of the Year and Jo Fay, representing the California Retired Teachers Association.

Lake County has had three California Teachers of the Year in the last 18 years. Erica Boomer from Upper Lake Unified School District was named a California Teacher of the Year 2019. Jennifer Kelly from the Middletown Unified School District received the honor in 2011, and Alan Siegel from Konocti Unified School District received the honor in 2005.

Brock Falkenberg, Lake County Superintendent of Schools, acknowledges Lake County teachers’ high success rate in the California Teacher of the Year program. “Our Lake County students are being served well by some of the best teachers in our state. Each and every one works diligently to put students first.”

The Lake County Teacher of the Year program is administered through the Lake County Office of Education and the California Department of Education. For more information about Anna Sabalone and the Lake County District Teachers of the Year, please visit lakecoe.org/TOY.