Some of the projects that the ASB conducted this year included educational videos during monthly observances such as Black History Month, Women’s History and Month of the Military Child. (Air Force photograph by Giancarlo Casem) “You don’t need a title to be a leader…so I imagined a project-based course where students can plan, execute and reflect on events that they plan.” The 2021 Kern County Teacher of the Year, Jason Spitzer, poses for a photo with some of his students after presenting them with end-of-the-year awards at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., May 21, 2021. “We as a staff talked about creating a class where students can basically learn to be leaders because before they had titles: President, Vice President, whatever, but they didn’t really understand leadership, what it means to lead,” he said. The Leadership class stemmed as a need by the school to go above and beyond for their students after the previous ASB adviser stepped down from the role. “You can be a teacher, no matter where you go.” “The thing I’m most proud of is the leadership component and feeling like every year, 30-40 kids are growing as leaders and they’re going off to college or to a career in the military, with leadership skills and they’re going to go off and they’re going to mentor and teach people,” Spitzer said. He also spearheaded a Speech and Debate class and serves as the Associated Student Body adviser, however he is most proud of the accomplishments of his Leadership class. He has parlayed that passion for English into a successful tenure as the English Department chairperson where he helped increase the school’s English and Advanced Placement scores. The Riverside, Calif., native earned his English degree from the University of California, Riverside, in 2009. “When they read my name, I was really shocked and I felt so honored…I just feel a lot of pride to be a Desert teacher and to represent my students I wouldn’t be able to do what I can do without my students.” “When I was filling out application I wasn’t thinking about just the accolades for myself but I wanted to show what the school does and how great the school is, and show how great our district is and the Edwards community as well,” Spitzer explained. Spitzer said that when he applied for the annual competition, one of the impetus for doing so was that it would showcase his students and the school.
“It’s not just a victory for me personally, it’s a victory for my students, the school, district and Edwards.” “It means that I’ve accomplished something, and my students have accomplished something tremendous,” Spitzer said. What does English, literature and leadership have in common? Those are some of the courses that the 2021 Kern County Teacher of the Year winner, Jason Spitzer, teaches at Desert Junior-Senior High School on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.