San Elijo Elementary yields district’s top teacher
Annual award goes to 3rd-generation educator
By Linda Lou Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. May 23, 2009
PROFILE: YVONNE FOJTASEK
Award: San Marcos Unified School District Teacher of the Year.
Experience: Fojtasek has taught for 19 years, including 17 at three San Marcos elementary schools. She teaches at San Elijo Elementary.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, Abilene Christian University; master’s in educational administration, Cal State San Marcos.
Family: Married to Neil, their two sons are in their 20s.
Hobbies: Yoga, fitness, reading mysteries and watching “CSI.”
SAN MARCOS — When Yvonne Fojtasek was in first grade, her grandfather gave her a copy of the teacher’s version of a reading anthology called “On Cherry Street.”
“It was like gold to me,” Fojtasek said. She used it to play school with her younger sister in the basement of their home, where she had a chalkboard set up. Fojtasek’s mother, and several relatives on her mother’s side were educators, including her grandfather.
It’s fitting then that Fojtasek chose to follow in their footsteps. The third-generation educator is San Marcos Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year. She will represent the 18,000-student district in the annual San Diego County Teacher of the Year competition this fall.
“It’s very humbling,” Fojtasek said. “There are so many extraordinary teachers out there. It’s such an honor to be representing your school and your district.”
Fojtasek, 52, has taught for 17 years in San Marcos. She was at San Marcos Elementary School for one year and then at Alvin Dunn elementary for 13. She transferred to San Elijo when it opened as a K-8 school before moving to San Elijo Elementary when it split off in 2006. Prior to working in San Marcos, Fojtasek taught high school English and Spanish for two years in Texas and Colorado. She also took some time off to raise two sons and get her teaching credential in California. Read more via San Elijo Elementary yields district’s top teacher.
