The 44th Annual Educator of the Year celebration was once again held live at Palos Verdes Golf Club. Attendees gathered to honor and celebrate some of the most inspiring individuals on the Peninsula—our educators. Recognizing Peninsula teachers has been one of the great privileges of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Club, and this year’s event introduced nine outstanding educators who were honored as Educators of the Year: Lynda Louise (Lunada Bay Elementary School), Donna Villaescusa (Soleado Elementary School), Molly Steinberg (Dapplegray Elementary School), Zuriña Lekuona (Chadwick School), Bryan Godbold (Mira Catalina Elementary School), Kurt Hay (Palos Verdes Intermediate School), Blanca Magaña (St. John Fisher School), Mary Fournier (Palos Verdes Peninsula High School), and David Witthoff (Crestmont College).
Since 2009, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Club has proudly hosted this special event. Co-Chairs Joan Behrens and Rick Humphrey, along with dedicated members of the PVP Rotary Club, worked to present an evening of celebration and recognition. In conjunction with Educator of the Year, the Club also raised funds to provide college, vocational, and STEM scholarships to deserving students from the Peninsula and the LA Harbor Boys & Girls Club. Over the last decade, the Club has distributed $460,000 in scholarships, a testament to the community’s generosity and commitment to education.
Joan Behrens
