Distinguished Alumni Awards 2013: Rebecca Mieliwocki

The 2012 National Teacher of the Year earned her teaching credential at Cal State Northridge. Learn why Rebecca Mieliwocki '01 (Secondary English Education Credential) represents the very best of American public education and makes CSUN so proud to call her one of our own.

video directed and edited by Krishna Narayanamurti
produced by Dylan de Mott, Gray Mounger, and Krishna Narayanamurti
executive producers: William Jennings and Sara Stern
cinematography by Dylan de Mott and Krishna Narayanamurti
color correction and visual effects supervisor: Dylan de Mott
production scheduler: Rayetta Esquibel
associate producer: Cheryl McMillan
end title motion graphics by Lilit Aramyan and Dylan de Mott, based on the print design by the CSUN Viscom Center
archival footage/B-roll and photos courtesy of the California Teacher of the Year committee, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the Mieliwocki family, the CSU Chancellor's Office, Lee Choo, and the White House
narration by Karen Kearns
music by AudioJungle
special thanks: Corina Conboy, Kyrsten Lew, Tatsuo Kumagai, Peter Medina

BONNIE: We prepare beginning teachers,

because we then lose them to the schools where
they blossom.

WENDY: We have a lot of teachers out there,
who are doing great things.

But what Rebecca does is she puts a face to
those exciting, wonderful things.

PRESIDENT: She's got high expectations for
her seventh graders and for herself.

But she also knows that school can be fun.

ANITA: She's able to connect with them, find
humor

that resonates with them,

all while delivering an extremely rigorous
curriculum.

PRESIDENT: And that fits a personality that
she describes

as "a 12-year-old goofball dying to get out."

BONNIE: What's happened with Rebecca is that
she's brought

all of her intelligence and dedication and
her caring about kids,

and she's really found her way in teaching.

PRESIDENT: And, I have to say, she was a little
goofy when I met her.

(music)

NARRATOR: Alumna Rebecca Mieliwocki has received
local, state,

and national recognition for her innovative
approach to teaching.

A seventh grade English teacher at Luther
Burbank Middle School

for the past nine years and a teacher for
the past 16,

Rebecca fully engages her students in classroom
learning.

REPORTER: What's going on in kids these age,

intellectually and physically, socially, that
makes them a tough group.

REBECCA: Oh my gosh, they're a party coming
and going.

I can't imagine a funner -- funner! A teacher
said 'funner!' --

a more fun group of kids to teach.

They have so much native energy and enthusiasm
about the world around them,

and it's my job to kind of harness that energy
and direct it

toward the things that I need them to learn.

ANITA: I would go to visit, and then forget
that half an hour passed by.

I was enthralled with the art of her teaching.

The seamless transitions, the scaffolding
to higher-level.

You're seeing an artist perf-- just an artist.

NARRATOR: In 2012, she was recognized by President
Barack Obama

as the 62nd National Teacher of the Year

in a ceremony at the White House, along with
her fellow

State Teachers of the Year.

REBECCA: So teachers, I want to say to you,

be passionate about your work and your students,
stay curious,

never stop learning, and bring the joy of
what you know into

your classrooms and share it with your students.

Set the highest expectations for each and
every one of your students,

but do me a favor, and set an even higher
set of goals for yourself.

You are a hero to someone, and you may not
even know it.

NARRATOR: As part of her duties as National
Teacher of the Year,

Rebecca embarked on a year-long speaking tour,
sharing with educators

and others her passion for the classroom.

MICHAEL: One of the things that, I think,
Rebecca

has done wonderfully, as she has traveled
internationally --

she really gives out a recipe or a blueprint
for success

in American public education.

REBECCA: If we want a transformation in education.

If we truly want innovation and reform,

we have got to stop talking about testing
and start talking

more about developing, supporting, and celebrating
teachers.

Teachers are the architects of the change
we've been waiting for.

(applause)

MICHAEL: Just by virtue of her being named
the 2012 Teacher of the Year,

she automatically increases the equity and
the value of all the degrees

of all of our alums that are out there that
have received credentials

and received degrees from Cal State Northridge,

because here's one amongst us who is one of
the best and the brightest,

and an amazing person changing people and
working with students

every day out there in the community.

ELLEN: Well, we wanted to have you on the
show to tell you how much

we admire you and think that this is amazing
what you've accomplished,

but who better to tell you how they feel than
your students. Let's take a look.

STUDENT: Thank you Mrs. Mieliwocki for being
the inspiration that you are to my life.

Thank you for being a great teacher, always
being there for us,

not making class boring.

Thank you for being an amazing teacher and
we love you.

BONNIE: Rebecca, all of the faculty in secondary
education

in the College are extremely proud of you,

and you represents us really, really well.
Thank you.

WENDY: On behalf of everybody in book club
and everybody who loves you,

and there's a lot of them, I'm so proud of
you. I'm so excited for you.

And maybe this will encourage you to up the
energy a little bit,

add a little humor for once, because you're
a little dry and boring,

but honey, you can get better! So, use this
to excite yourself

and excite others, for once. Love you, love
you, love you, and congratulations!